The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced the squad for the national women’s cricket team to participate in T20 World Cup 2024 Asia Qualifiers. Fourteen players out of the twenty-four participants in the closed camp have been selected for the squad.
Three new faces have been called into the squad. Puja Mahato, Rubi Poddar and Khusi Dangol are given a maiden call-up in the team.
Puja is a batting allrounder, whilst Rubi is a wicketkeeper batter and replaced Jyoti Pandey in the squad. Similarly, Khusi is a leg spinner.
Puja Mahato, participating in her first closed camp, has secured a spot in the squad on her maiden call-up. Her training base is in Delhi, and she has yet to make an appearance in domestic cricket competitions.
CAN recently roped in Devika Palshikar as a consultant coach for the National Women’s Cricket Team. As per CAN, She will be involved in the planning and execution of the team’s preparation.
T20 World Cup 2024 Asia Qualifiers is set to be played in Malaysia from August 31 to September 9. Two teams from Asia Qualifier will be selected in Global Qualifiers.
Nepal, Bahrain, Bhutan, UAE, Qatar and Malaysia are placed in Group A, whereas Thailand, Kuwait, China, Hong Kong and Myanmar are in Group B.
The top two sides from each group will reach the semifinal. Then two finalists will book a place in Global Qualifier to be held in Sri Lanka. Ten teams – Sri Lanka, Ireland and eight teams coming from the qualifiers will compete in Global Qualifier, and the top two teams will seal the ticket to the main event in Bangladesh, where ten teams will compete.
Nepal’s Squad: Rubina Chhetri (c), Sita Rana Magar, Indu Barma, Kabita Kunwar, Kabita Joshi, Ashmina Karmacharya, Bindu Rawal, Apsari Begam, Kajol Shrestha, Samjhana Khadka, Ishwori Bista, Rubi Poddar, Khushi Dangol, Pooja Mahato
