Nepal vs Namibia Match: Nepal kicks off its campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup League-2 triangular ODI series today with a match against Namibia at the TU Cricket Ground. The match is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM.
League-2, featuring eight teams including Nepal, will continue until 2027. The first series pits Nepal against Namibia and the Netherlands in a round-robin format. Both Nepal and Namibia will be eager to secure a victorious start to the tournament.
Nepal boasts a strong record on its home turf, remaining undefeated in ODI matches at the TU Cricket Ground for the past year. The team will look to maintain its winning momentum, fueled by home crowd support and favorable conditions.
Rohit Poudel captains Nepal, while Gerald Erasmus leads Namibia. Nepal enters the series with high morale after a clean sweep in its recent three-match ODI series against Canada.
Anil Shah could potentially replace opener Asif Sheikh in today’s lineup, bolstered by his impressive performances of 50 and 112 runs in the Canada series. Bhim Sarki, fresh off a century in the final match against Canada, is expected to maintain his strong form. Middle-order batsmen Rohit Paudel and Arif Sheikh will play crucial roles in solidifying Nepal’s innings.
All-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee’s absence due to his participation in the International League T-20 could open a spot for Pawan Sarraf.
Karan KC and Sompal Kami will spearhead Nepal’s fast bowling attack, with Gulshan Jha potentially playing as an all-rounder. Spinner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi will lead the spin attack, supported by Rohit, Pawan, and Kushal Malla.
Namibia presents a formidable challenge with left-handed opener Michael Van Lingen, who scored two centuries against Nepal in League-2 last year. Securing his wicket early will be a priority for Nepal. Namibia’s batting lineup is potent, featuring captain Gerald Erasmus, Zane Green, JP Kotze, and Nicol Loftie-Eaton.
Fast bowler Ruben Trumpelmann will lead the Namibian bowling attack. Young talent Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, fresh from the U-19 World Cup and honed in English domestic cricket, could pose an unexpected threat. Ben Shikongo and Bernard Scholtz will manage the spin department.
Namibia’s strong batting performances of 285 and 274 runs in their previous two matches against Nepal were ultimately not enough to secure wins. The head-to-head record stands at two wins each for Nepal and Namibia, with one rain-affected draw in their last five encounters.
Nepal’s second match in the series is scheduled for Saturday against the Netherlands, followed by a rematch against Namibia on Wednesday and a final match against the Netherlands on Sunday.
Head-to-Head Nepal and Namibia have played six ODI matches against each other, with Nepal securing two wins, Namibia three, and one match abandoned due to rain.