Kathmandu, August 18
Nepal are set to make their second consecutive appearance in Australia’s Top End T20 Series, with the Nepal A team heading to Darwin for the tournament beginning August 21.
Unlike last year, when Nepal sent its senior national team, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has selected a 15-member Nepal A squad for this year’s tournament. Anil Kumar Sah will captain the side.
The senior team’s commitments in the ACC Premier Cup have prompted CAN to send the A team to Australia.
The tournament will provide Nepal’s emerging players with exposure to Australian conditions and competitive opposition. Nepal will play six league matches against NT Strike, Bangladesh High Performance, Hobart Hurricanes Academy, ACT Comets, Kingsmen and Victoria CA XI.
Nepal will open its campaign against NT Strike on August 21 before facing Bangladesh High Performance on August 22. The team will then play Hobart Hurricanes Academy on August 24, ACT Comets on August 26, Kingsmen on August 27 and Victoria CA XI on August 29.
Building on last year’s experience
Nepal made its Top End T20 debut last year with the senior national team. It won two of its six league matches and lost four.
Nepal defeated Hobart Hurricanes Academy and Melbourne Renegades Academy but lost to Melbourne Stars Academy, NT Strike, Bangladesh A and Pakistan Shaheens.
Five players from last year’s squad—Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Lokesh Bam, Rupesh Singh and Shah Alam—are returning for the tournament this year.
Bhurtel’s inclusion gives the A team an added boost. The regular national team member has been rested from ODI cricket for a period and has been included in the squad for the T20 tournament.
Captain Sah said the tournament would be a major opportunity for the players.
“Our preparations have been good. We have also spoken to senior players about the conditions there and learned how to prepare mentally,” Sah said. “Playing this tournament as Nepal A is a big opportunity and will provide valuable exposure.”
A test ahead of the Asian Games
The Top End T20 Series will also serve as an important preparation platform for players hoping to make Nepal’s squad for the Asian Games in Japan, which begin on September 24.
Several players involved in the tournament are part of Nepal’s preliminary Asian Games plans, although the final squad could change after the Australia tour.
Nepal can play at least six matches in the Top End T20. If it reaches the semi-finals and final, the team could play up to eight matches.
Nepal’s 15-member squad
Anil Kumar Sah (captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, Trit Raj Das, Mayan Yadav, Pawan Sarraf, Dipak Dumre, Kushal Malla, Rashid Khan, Narayan Joshi, Aakash Chand, Shahab Alam, Bipin Khatri, Yuvraj Khatri and Rijan Dhakal.
Nepal’s Top End T20 fixtures
August 21: vs NT Strike
August 22: vs Bangladesh High Performance
August 24: vs Hobart Hurricanes Academy
August 26: vs ACT Comets
August 27: vs Kingsmen
August 29: vs Victoria CA XI
The 2026 Top End T20 Series runs from August 21 to 30 in Darwin.
