The Cricket World Cup League 2 series begins on Tuesday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur, with the US and Scotland focusing on the title, while Nepal will have to fight for survival on home soil. Apart from Scotland, Nepal will play 2-2 One-Day Internationals with the US.

The US and Scotland are the top teams in League 2. The US is at the top with 36 points from 24 matches, while Scotland is in second place with 34 points from 28 matches. Nepal is in seventh place in the eight-nation League 2 with 18 points from 24 matches. The top four teams in League 2 will qualify directly for the World Cup qualifiers.

This series with the US and Scotland is very important for Nepal, which is struggling to maintain its One-Day International status. This is Nepal's third and final home series in League 2. Nepal had previously played a home series against the Netherlands and Namibia in 2024 and against the UAE and Oman last week, in which Nepal won 4 out of 8 matches. In 2019-2023, Nepal won 10 out of 12 matches in League 2 played at home.

Scotland has a chance to surpass the United States. For that, Scotland will have to win against Nepal and especially the United States in this series. In 2023, Scotland came to Kathmandu to play in League 2 and lost to Nepal in both matches. But in the same series, Scotland defeated Namibia to win the League 2 Circle title in 2019-2023. While playing in the Netherlands Super League, Scotland won the title by collecting 50 points in 36 matches.

But since coming to Nepal, Scotland's performance has not been good this time either. Scotland lost both practice matches against Nepal 'A'. In the backdrop of Scotland not playing well on Nepali soil, former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has been appointed as a consultant. Ali is currently in Kathmandu with the Scotland team.

Ali, who has played 97 Tests and 53 ODIs for Pakistan, is confident that his experience playing in Asia will be useful. He has scored more than 7,000 runs in Tests. Ali said in a Cricket Scotland statement that he is excited to work with Scotland, who are talented players. Ali played against Nepal in the 2002 U-19 World Cup, when he was mainly a bowler.

Nepal had defeated Scotland 1-1 in Dallas, USA and Dundee, Scotland during this League 2 trip. In the other match in Dundee, Scotland, Scotland defeated Nepal by 2 runs. Nepal, who were set a target of 324 runs to win in that match, were all out for 321 runs in 50 overs. Scotland captain Richie Barrington scored 102 runs in that match and Michael Leask scored an unbeaten 96 runs off 62 balls.

Scotland's George Munsey, Brandon McMullen and Mark Watt have experience of coming to Kathmandu and playing in the NPL. Playing for Karnali Yaks, Watt scored an unbeaten 114 runs off 44 balls against the champion Lumbini Lions in the league stage match. Watt scored 100 runs off 41 balls, making it the shortest century in the NPL.

The last time Nepal and Scotland met was in February in the Twenty20 World Cup in Mumbai, India, where Nepal scored 171 runs and won by 7 wickets on the half-century of Dipendra Singh Airee. Vice-captain Dipendra is currently in high form. In the series against UAE and Oman, Dipendra scored 268 runs at an average of around 90, including a century and two half-centuries.

But due to the lack of support from other batsmen, Nepali batting has not been able to perform as expected. The opening duo of Kushal Bhurtel and Asif Sheikh, who were considered the foundation of Nepali batting, lost their place after two matches against UAE and Oman. Since then, Kushal is still out of the playing 11, while Asif, who returned to the team after a 'drop' in one match, scored 94 runs against Oman.

Wicketkeeper-batter Binod Bhandari, who returned to the Nepali team after a long time, scored a half-century against UAE but was out on the first ball in the next match. Young Arjun Kumal showed the potential to become a long-term companion in Nepali cricket by playing a mature innings against Oman. Nepal has included Ishan Pandey in the team in place of all-rounder Bashir Ahmed from the series played against UAE and Oman.

Ishan, who is waiting for his 'debut' in ODIs, can overcome the crisis of left-handed batsmen in the team for a long time. Gulshan Jhama is the only left-handed batsman in the Nepali team in the top batting order. He has shown good impact with both ball and bat in the last two matches against UAE and Oman.