ICC Cricket World Cup League 2: Nepal Announces Squad for UAE Tri-Series, Eyes Climb Up Standings
18th October 2025, Kathmandu
ICC T20 World Cup Asia and EAP Qualifiers, where they secured a berth in the T20 World Cup next year in India and Sri Lanka, the Nepalese national cricket team has landed in the UAE to shift focus back to the 50-over format.
ICC Cricket World Cup League 2
The focus now turns to the crucial ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 as Nepal prepares for a triangular series in Dubai against the hosts, the UAE, and the USA.
Squad Changes: Three New Faces for ODI Challenge
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced the 15-member ODI squad immediately upon the team’s arrival. The selection sees three changes from the T20 World Cup qualifying squad, signaling a shift in strategy for the longer format.
The three players who have earned a spot in the ODI setup are Bhim Sharki, Anil Kumar Sah, and Sahab Alam.
Conversely, T20 squad members Lokesh Bam, Sandeep Jora, and Adil Ansari have been left out of the ODI team. The remaining twelve players from the T20-winning squad have retained their places.
Nepalese Squad for UAE League 2 Tri-Series:
| Role | Player Name |
| Captain | Rohit Kumar Paudel |
| Vice-Captain | Dipendra Singh Airee |
| Batsmen/All-rounders | Kushal Bhurtel, Md. Arif Sheikh, Gulshan Jha, Kushal Malla, Bhim Sharki, Anil Kumar Sah |
| Bowlers | Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sahab Alam, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi |
| Wicketkeeper-Batsman | Md. Asif Sheikh |
Fixtures and Schedule
The crucial ODI tri-series is set to kick off on October 26 and run through November 5, 2025. Nepal’s fixtures, all set to be played at the Dubai International Stadium, are as follows:
| Date | Match | Venue |
| October 26 | Nepal vs USA | Dubai International Stadium |
| October 30 | Nepal vs UAE | Dubai |
| November 1 | Nepal vs USA | Dubai |
| November 5 | Nepal vs UAE | Dubai |
League 2 Standings: The Battle for Qualification
These four matches are vital for the Nepalese team’s ambition to climb the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 table. With 16 matches played so far, Nepal currently sits in the seventh position with 12 points.
The top three teams in the eight-team competition secure direct qualification to the next stage, while the bottom four proceed to the World Cup Qualifier Play-off.
Current League 2 Standings (Before UAE Tri-Series):
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Points |
| 1 | Scotland | 24 | 30 |
| 2 | USA | 20 | 28 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 24 | 28 |
| 4 | Oman | 20 | 24 |
| 5 | Canada | 24 | 21 |
| 6 | Namibia | 24 | 19 |
| 7 | Nepal | 16 | 12 |
| 8 | UAE | 16 | 6 |
Captain Rohit Paudel’s side will be looking to capitalize on their recent winning momentum from the T20 qualifiers to secure maximum points in the UAE and significantly boost their chances of a higher finish in the Cricket World Cup League 2.
For more: ICC Cricket World Cup League 2
