The Nepali national cricket team has been bid farewell to play in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Saturday bid farewell to the Nepali team that is going to play in the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7.

The Nepali team will leave for Sri Lanka on Sunday. Nepal is scheduled to play three practice matches against Sri Lanka 'A' in Colombo on January 20, 22 and 24. From there, the Nepali team will reach Mumbai, India. There, the team will play two more Twenty20 practice matches against the Mumbai Cricket Association's President-11 on January 27 and 29.

Nepal will play two official practice matches for the World Cup in the first week of February. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not yet finalized those matches. Nepal is scheduled to play all the World Cup matches in Mumbai. Nepal will start its World Cup journey by playing against England on February 8.

Nepal is then scheduled to play against Italy on February 12, West Indies on February 15 and Bangladesh on February 17. This is the first time Nepal is playing against England and Italy. CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand, Vice President Roshan Singh, Treasurer Padam Khadka and Secretary Paras Khadka bid farewell to the team. Secretary Khadka said that he has high expectations from the Nepali team. He said, ‘We have faith in our team and our capabilities.’

President Chand informed that due to various reasons, the Test nation could not be invited for a home series before the World Cup. But claiming that the practice match with Sri Lanka ‘A’ would provide good preparation, he said, ‘There is no room for questioning the preparation. The players should also focus on individual performance.’

Nepal’s Australian coach Stuart Law said that preparations are progressing at a rapid pace with three weeks left before the World Cup. Captain Rohit Poudel clarified that preparations are going as planned. ‘Our preparations are going well. The preparations we did at the Extratech Oval in Tilottama went well. The red clay wicket there was similar to Mumbai. That is why we are all enthusiastic,’ said Captain Rohit, ‘The year 2025 was good for us. We will also start 2026 well by playing the World Cup.’

Nepali team awarded Rs 3 million

Former MP and Managing Director of Nobel Hospital Sunil Sharma has awarded Rs 3 million to the Nepali cricket team. In September, he announced that the Nepali team would be awarded 3 million rupees for winning the three-match Twenty20 series against the West Indies in Sharjah, UAE. 

Nepal had won the series against the West Indies 2-1 in a historic manner in its first series against a Test nation. At the farewell ceremony of the Nepali cricket team that is going to play the World Cup, he handed over a check of the announced amount to captain Rohit Poudel. He also announced that the Nepali team will be awarded 2 million rupees if it reaches the Super Eights of the World Cup. Director Sharma also announced that the team's players and families will be provided with free treatment for two years. 

'Where is the announced cash prize?'

Captain Rohit Poudel has expressed his grievances over not receiving the announced prize despite reaching the Twenty20 World Cup. Nepal reached the World Cup for the third time by winning the Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers held in Oman in October.

According to the Nepal government's award procedure, the players of the team that wins the World Cup qualifiers will receive 1.95 million rupees each. But he said that the players were unhappy because they did not receive the prize money mentioned in the government's procedures. 

'I think we should get what we are entitled to. Rather than doing this and that after our playing career, we should give what we deserve now. Then we will talk about retirement,' Rohit said, 'Even after 4 months, we have not received the announced prize. It does not seem like any process has progressed. We are missing this aspect. If the prize announced before the World Cup comes, the morale of the players will increase. Players also need money, it would be good if the government looks into this.'

The government had given Rs. 1.3 million each to each player of the Nepali team that reached the World Cup after finishing as runners-up in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers held in Nepal. This time, the Nepali team won the World Cup qualifiers title in Oman.

Malla not going to the World Cup

Nepali team's assistant coach Gyanendra Malla has decided not to go to the Twenty20 World Cup. CAN spokesperson Chhumbi Lama said that Malla had already withdrawn his name from the World Cup team. 

Malla had been in the training team since last year. He was preparing to go to the World Cup with the Nepali team. But Malla had not been there since the Nepali team went to the Extratech Oval Stadium in Rupandehi for preparation two weeks ago. Basanta Shahi had taken on the role of assistant coach there. 

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has included him in the proportional list for the parliamentary elections scheduled for Falgun 21. That is why Malla said that he withdrew his name from the Nepali team going to the World Cup and informed CAN.