Nepal is all set to play against the UAE in its first Super Six match of the ICC T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific Qualifier.
Having faced relatively weaker teams in the group stage, Nepal will now take on its familiar rival, the UAE, in its first Super Six encounter. The match will start at 4:15 PM (Nepali local time), Sunday, at Oman Cricket Academy Turf 1.
Both Nepal and the UAE remained unbeaten in the group stage and have entered the Super Six with 2 points each.
The match between Nepal and the UAE is often labelled the “Associate Rivalry.” Their recent form and past results have made these two sides strong competitors.
Today’s match will also be one of the most important games. The winning team will gain a strong start in the Super Six.
Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel said the UAE is a good team but will be treated as just another opponent.
“The UAE is one of the best teams in this tournament. If we play according to our basics and standards, we can win,” Paudel says. “The main thing is to focus on our strengths rather than who the opponent is.”
Meanwhile, UAE coach Lalchand Rajput said his team is ready to face strong teams like Nepal and Oman in the Super Six.
Recent form
Both teams are currently in good form. Before this qualifier, both played several international series and major tournaments.
Nepal recently made history by defeating the West Indies in a T20 series before the World Cup qualifier. Before that, Nepal had also traveled abroad for adequate preparation and practice matches.
Similarly, the UAE won a T20 series against Bangladesh and participated in the Asia Cup, gaining valuable match exposure.
In their last five T20I matches, Nepal has won four and lost one, while the UAE has won three and lost two.
Head-to-head
So far, Nepal and the UAE have played 10 T20I matches, with both teams winning five games each.
However, in matches played in Oman, the UAE has had the upper hand, winning all three encounters. This time, Nepal has the chance to change that record.
The last time they encountered was in the 2024 ACC Premier Cup in Oman, where the UAE defeated Nepal by six wickets. That loss ended Nepal’s hopes of qualifying for the Asia Cup.
In crucial matches, both sides have taken turns stunning each other. The UAE defeated Nepal in the 2022 T20 World Cup Qualifier to reach the World Cup, but in the 2023 qualifier, Nepal turned the tables and eliminated the UAE.
In the T20I rankings, the UAE is currently 16th, while Nepal is 18th.
Players to watch
For Nepal, Kushal Bhurtel and Gulshan Jha could be key performers. Lately, Bhurtel has been in fine batting form, and Nepal’s innings will depend heavily on his start against the UAE.
Jha, meanwhile, has also performed well against the UAE in the past. He has already played a crucial role in the first two matches of this qualifier, including scoring a quick 20 off 6 balls in the opening game.
For the UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem will be their main player. His opening batting often dictates the team’s entire innings. In bowling, Junaid Siddique will be their main weapon, as he is the UAE’s leading wicket-taker.
Toss and probable XI
This ground has seen both low-scoring and high-scoring matches. Japan successfully chased 178 runs against Kuwait, the only high-scoring match so far. Most other games have been of moderate totals.
Nepal defended 141 runs against Kuwait, bowling them out for 83, while Oman chased 93 runs against Qatar at a slow pace.
Captains may prefer to bat first and post a good total to defend.
Nepal is likely to play with an unchanged lineup, though Kushal Malla could be replaced due to his weak form.
Nepal probable XI
Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel, Kushal Malla/Lokesh Bam, Sundeep Jora, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi
UAE probable XI:
Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Waseem, Muhammad Arfan, Rahul Chopra, Basil Hameed, Alishan Sharafu, Haider Ali, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Simarjeet Singh, Muhammad Rohid
Nepal’s Super Six Fixtures
- Nepal vs UAE –October 12 (4:15 PM)
- Nepal vs Qatar – Ashoj 13 (8:45 AM)
- Nepal vs Samoa – October 15 (8:45 AM)
- Nepal vs Oman – October 17 (4:15 PM)
All times are in Nepal local time.
