Nepal take on Pakistan today

KATHMANDU, DEC 28 -

Nepal take on Pakistan in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup cricket tournament at GCA ground in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Pitted against joint winners India and Pakistan, Nepal’s prospect does not look bright considering that the team from ICC Associate nation had never progressed beyond the group stage the last time the tournament was held in Malaysia in 2012. Despite the poor record, the junior Nepali team are looking to reclaim the giant-killer tag that their predecessor had been able to earn. Coach Jung Bahadur Thapa also believes that his boys are ready to challenge the opponents from Test-playing nations.

When the two teams met in the inaugural event two years earlier, Nepal lost by eight wickets. To add to the disadvantage to the Nepali side only one member — skipper Bhuwan Karki — of that team has survived for the tournament. Seven of the 2012 Nepali team have broke into the senior team meaning coach Thapa will once again be leading an experienced team.

But Thapa was not worried about the stats and said he was confident. “Head-to-head does not count for much as our junior team has also beaten them (Pakistan),” Thapa said.

“We have a very good batting lineup which has the potential to defeat any opponent,” added Thapa.

Nepal’s second match is against India on Sunday followed by the UAE on Tuesday. The Group B consist of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Malaysia. The top two teams from each pool will enter the semi-finals.