By Zainab Shafiq 
Nepal have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, to be held jointly by the West Indies and the USA. With skipper Rohit Paudel at the helm, the squad features a blend of experience and promising youngsters.
The squad sees the return of seasoned players like Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, and Kushal Malla, providing stability and leadership. However, some notable names are missing, including Aarif Sheikh, Bibek Yadav, and Aakash Chand.
Nepal’s best-known T20 cricketer, Sandeep Lamichhane, remains absent due to a rape trial and subsequent jail sentence. His absence leaves a significant gap in the team’s bowling attack.
Nepal’s recent preparatory series against West Indies A concluded with a 2-1 defeat, despite a morale-boosting century from Paudel in the first game. This series served as a crucial warm-up for the upcoming global tournament.
The selected squad features several exciting prospects, including Dipendra Singh Airee, who recently made headlines by hitting six sixes in an over. This blend of experience and youthful exuberance aims to propel Nepal forward on the international stage.
Nepal find themselves placed in Group D alongside cricketing powerhouses like Bangladesh, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, along with the Netherlands. Their campaign begins on June 4th against the Netherlands in Dallas, Texas.
Nepal Squad to be led by Rohit Paudel:
- Rohit Paudel (capt)
- Aasif Sheikh
- Anil Kumar Sah
- Kushal Bhurtel
- Kushal Malla
- Dipendra Singh Airee
- Lalit Rajbanshi
- Karan KC
- Gulshan Jha
- Sompal Kami
- Pratis GC
- Sundeep Jora
- Abinash Bohara
- Sagar Dhakal
- Kamal Singh Airee
With Paudel leading the charge and a determined squad by his side, Nepal are ready to face the challenges of the T20 World Cup. Their journey begins on June 4th, and the cricketing world will be watching their progress with interest.
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