Nepal have made their step up to the big stage. A victory in the inaugural ACC Men’s Premier Cup earlier this year, where they beat UAE in the final, earned them a spot at the big boys’ table. Wednesday (August 30) will mark a momentous occasion in their brief ODI history so far since gaining the status in 2018, as they will play in their first-ever Asia Cup fixture.
Away from the spotlight that is usually reserved for the top sides in this sport, Nepal have put together a side with players bringing incredible returns as far as runs and wickets are concerned. Sandeep Lamichhane for instance, has 42 ODI wickets this year – the most in the format. They have more statistical bright spots throughout the line-up, and will hope they can translate that reputation and ruffle a few feathers, starting with Pakistan – only the No.1 ODI team currently.
Babar Azam’s side has started to look well-rounded, with all departments primed to perform in every condition. The two-time champions, who endured an underwhelming campaign in the last Asia Cup in 2018, will aim for a fast start and to pocket some confidence and momentum before running into India in Pallekele on Saturday (September 2). In what will be the first of possibly two home fixtures for them, they start as overwhelming favourites to take all the points as Nepal brace themselves for a tough initiation at the tournament.
When: Pakistan vs Nepal, 1st Match Group A, August 30, 02:30 PM LOCAL
Where: Multan Cricket Stadium
What to expect: Sweltering Multan heat, with temperatures soaring to close to 40 degrees in the first half of the game. Historically, both spinners and pacers have had similar averages at this venue but the last time an ODI series was played here – against West Indies in June 2022 – the spin trio of Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Akeal Hossein were the leading wicket-takers.
Team News & Tactics:
Pakistan
The hosts have two top-order batters in Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam who average 66.33 and 60.33 at the venue. They have a stacked batting order with Mohammad Rizwan at No.4 while Agha Salman has also proven to be a handy middle-order batter helping Pakistan shed their top-heavy tag in white-ball cricket. Pakistan are also well endowed in the allrounder department, leaving the management with the happy headache of having to pick one among Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Probable XI:Â Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
Nepal
Captain Rohit Paudel is Nepal’s batting mainstay. He has 1383 runs in ODIs since 2021 – a tally bettered only by the World’s No.1 batter in the format, Babar Azam. In this same period, no bowler has more wickets than their spin bowling star Sandeep Lamichhane. The second and third bowlers on this list are also from the Nepal side – right-arm pace duo of Karan KC and Sompal Kami.
Probable XI:Â Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Bhim Sharki, Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami,Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi