Nepal begin test of their fate

KATHMANDU, OCT 23 - Nepal take on Uganda at the Kinrara Oval as their fate in international cricket for the next two years begins with the ICC World Cricket League Division III in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.
The Division III will send the top two teams to Division II which will also serve as t he qualification for the upcoming ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) and ICC Intercontinental Cup (ICup). The tournament is also an opportunity for all the six teams to have a shot at the busy international schedule of ICC for non-Test playing teams.
Coach Pubudu Dassanayake acknowledged the significance of the tournament which also includes hosts Malaysia, Sinagpore, Bermuda and the United States of America. “At this point of time we cannot think anything beyond the Division III tournament,” Dassanayake told The Kathmandu Post from the team hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
“Every team member, myself and the country’s cricket future depends on this tournament. We are focused and will give every bit to qualify for the next Division,” added Dassanayake.
Nepal landed in Kuala Lumpur from a nine-day preparation tour in Sri Lanka where they played three matches winning one, losing the other with the third washed out. Dassanayake said the Sri Lanka tour provided an opportunity to the players to shape themselves well.
The Division III was initially scheduled to begin from October 26 in Uganda but the ICC later shifted the venue to Malaysia. Dassanayake believes the decision has benefited Nepal. “The Malaysian conditions favours us pretty well but we have to take one game at a time. My only concern is the weather here,” said the Nepal coach.
“If we get to play full 50-over game, we can be the favourites. But if Duckworth Lewis comes into play in case of rain-reduced match, it can be anyone’s game,” Dassanayake added referring to the evening rain that Malaysia has seen in the last few days.
Nepal have met Uganda thrice winning twice and losing the other. Nepal had lifted the Division III title defeating Uganda in the final in Bermuda in May, 2013. Their title triumph had preceded a six-wicket loss to Uganda in the group stages. Nepal had hammered Uganda by 160 runs in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in a tournament where both teams were relegated back to Division III.
While Uganda pin high hopes in their spin attack, Dassanayake believes that the preparation in Sri Lanka has instilled enough confidence in his batsmen. “Our top order has been in a good shape and the middle order as usual is very strong. I am confident we will put enough runs on board,” added the coach.
Opening batsmen though could be a big concern for Dassanayake who has been trying to combine the long-time regular Subash Khakurel with Naresh Budhayer. But the best the opening pair did during the three matches in Sri Lanka was a 16-run stand against Colts Cricket Club.
While Khakurel made just 11 runs from three matches, Budhayer scored 70 with a half century (61) against Ragama Cricket Club. Khakurel has been a consistent top scorer for Nepal for quite a long time and despite his failure with the bat in friendlies, Dassanayake is set to continue with his new opening pair  in Malaysia as well.
There will also be huge expectations from middle order duo Gyanendra Malla and skipper Paras Khadka which has always been the backbone of the Nepali batting. Malla, in particular, has been in a sublime form scoring 167 against Ragama and 57 not out against Colts, while Khadka has a half century to his name in the warm-up tour.
Binod Bhandari, Sharad Vesawkar and Sagar Pun will have their place cemented, while Som Pal Kami will once again spearhead the bowling attack with Dassanayake in dilemma over the selection of embattling Amrit Bhattarai. Basanta Regmi and Shakti Gauchan will once again be at the heart of Nepali spin attack. Dassanayake will also have to deal with the headache either pick the veteran allrounder Mehboob Alam or go with the rising young all rounder Aarif Sheikh.