Image Source- AFP
The men’s team from Nepal will be led by Rohit Paudel
at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Sandeep Lamichhane, a leg-spinner who is
currently on bail following an allegation of sexual coercion, has been chosen
for the team.
The team has undergone significant changes since
Nepal’s last T20I match, a trip of Kenya in August 2022. Arjun Saud, Pawan
Sarraf, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Basir Ahamad, and Aarif Sheikh are a few of the
players from that squad who didn’t make the cut for the Asian Games, along with
veteran batter Gyanendra Malla, who has since retired.
Top order players are Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal
Bhurtel, and wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh. Kushal Malla and Binod Bhandari will
support the batting order, with Bhandari also serving as a backup wicketkeeper.
The pace attack, which also includes Sompal Kami,
Gulshan Jha, Abinash Bohara, and Bibek Yadav, will be led by Karan KC. The
squad has also been called up to include Pratis GC, who has not yet received a
T20I cap.
Lalit Rajbanshi will form the spin attack along with
Lamichhane, with the likes of Airee and Malla expected to chip in as well.
The Asian Games will get underway on September 23.
Nepal men’s squad for Asian Games: Rohit Paudel
(capt), Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla,
Binod Bhandari, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Abinash
Bohara, Bibek Yadav, Pratis GC, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sundeep Jora