Nepal Retains ODI Status: Captain Sandeep Lamichhane Delighted After ICC League 2 Campaign
21st October 2026, Kathmandu
Nepali national cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane expressed immense relief and joy after Nepal successfully retained its One Day International (ODI) status following a dramatic finish to its ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign.
Speaking to media personnel at Tribhuvan International Airport upon the team’s arrival on Tuesday evening, Captain Lamichhane confirmed that Nepal achieved its core target during the crucial tri-series against Oman and Canada.
“We went into this series with a clear objective: to save our ODI status. We have successfully secured it,” Sandeep said. “Sixth position was our pathway to staying at the top level, and we reached that goal.”
Key Highlights of Nepal’s ICC League 2 Finish
Final Position: 6th Place with 30 points across 36 matches.
Status Duration: Guarantees ODI status for Nepal for the next four years.
Crucial Tri-Series Performance: Won 3 out of 4 matches (2 victories against Oman; 1 win and 1 loss against Canada).
Next Goal: Preparation for the upcoming World Cup Qualifier Playoff.
Strong End to ICC League 2 Campaign
Nepal secured its ODI status by winning three of its final four League 2 matches in the tri-series against Oman and Canada. The team registered dominant victories over Oman in both fixtures while splitting results against Canada with one win and one defeat.
The strong late-stage performance pushed Nepal to 30 points, clinching 6th position in the overall table—the precise threshold required to retain official ODI status for the next four-year cycle.
Advertisement
Sandeep highlighted that the squad’s execution over the past few months played a pivotal role in this achievement:
Balanced Execution: Bowlers stuck to strategic plans, while batters established firm foundations on batting-friendly pitches.
Team Morale: The overall environment within the squad over the last 3–4 months boosted performance under pressure.
Looking Ahead: “We could have done better in certain phases, but saving our ODI status was the primary goal. In the next League 2 cycle, we will perform even better,” Sandeep added.
World Cup Qualifier Playoff & Domestic Preparation
With the League 2 cycle wrapped up, Nepal turns its attention toward the ICC World Cup Qualifier Playoff. Standard ICC procedures for host allocation raise the possibility of matches taking place in Nepal.
Addressing the prospect of hosting the playoff tournament at home, Sandeep emphasized Nepal’s strong record on home turf while pointing out key areas for immediate focus:
Fitness Standards: Elevating physical conditioning to match international tournament schedules.
Technical Readiness: Fine-tuning batting and bowling techniques ahead of high-stakes play.
Home Ground Advantage: Leveraging local fan support and pitch familiarity in Kirtipur.
For more: Nepal Retains ODI Status Captain Sandeep
