Kathmandu, March 26

Nepal’s national cricket squad play their first match of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh on Monday. Nepal, who just beat Kenya at home in the second match of the ICC World Cricket League, take on Pakistan’s U-23 at Cox’s Bazaar. Captain Paras Khadka, who underwent a surgery a few weeks ago has been rested and key players pacer Sompal Kami and left-arm spinner Shakti Gauchan are also staying home.

As Pakistan’s national squad kick-start their tour of the West Indies on Sunday, the U23 side, with some senior players, allowed under ACC rules, are in Dhaka ready for the fixture against Nepal.

Here we look at five key players of the Pakistan U-23 squad who can leave a mark in the match against Nepal on Monday:

1.

Mohommad Rizwan

Rizwan is the most experienced player in the Pakistani side, and of course the skipper of the side. The fielding sensation, who has been compared to the South African legend Jonty Rhodes, is keeping wickets for his side this time. He has also played 25 ODIs and 10 T20Is for this country. In the Pakistan Super League 2017, his team Lahore Qalandars were the first team to reach the 200-run mark with Rizwan remained not out on 46. His hard-hitting ability was on display on Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh when he scored 67 runs off 58 balls during his debut.

2.

Harris Sohail

Vice-captain Harris Sohail was first selected for the national squad in 2012 has had a long lay-off following a knee injury. He is a left-arm orthodox bowler who bats left-handed. The 28-year-old, who has represented Pakistan in 22 ODIs and four T20Is, missed action for a year-and-a-half after seriously injuring his knee. He made his comeback in January to domestic cricket while representing NCA XI in their match against Malaysia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. He has seven ODI 50s and eight T20I half centuries.

3.

Imam-ul-Haq

The nephew of Pakistan legend Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imam has made a reputation for making big scores. The 21-year-old has scored nine half-centuries and three centuries in first-class cricket in just 29 matches.

4.

Bilal Asif 

Thirty-one-year-old Bilal Asif is the oldest player in the squad. The off-spinner who is also handy with his bat, amazed Pakistani fans during the 2015 tour of Zimbabwe. In the third match of the series, he took five wickets for just 25 runs and returned with the bat as the opener to score 38 runs, including one six and six fours. His bowling action was reported during the same match. However, he went to Chennai the months following to rectify his action. He is now ready to make a come-back.

5.

Usama Mir

Usama Mir was fifth on the list of top wicket-takers in the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League. The right-arm leg-spinner, who played for Karachi Kings, claimed 12 wickets in eight matches. After offspinner Saeed Ajmal’s performance declined, Pakistan had legspinner Yasir Shah as a ready-made replacement. However, Shah has remained ineffective in limited-overs cricket. Mir and Shadab Khan were in queue for the spot. But Khan was selected for the squad’s tour of the West India and Mir for the Emerging Cup.