Nepal A are all set to begin their All India Gold Cup campaign with a crunch opening match against Kerala, promising an exciting contest between a young Nepali side and one of India's competitive domestic outfits.
The tournament, played in the 50-over format, is set to provide invaluable exposure to Nepal's upcoming cricketers as they go up against established domestic teams from across India — an experience that could prove crucial in shaping the next generation of Nepali cricket talent.
Match Details
Fixture: Nepal A vs Kerala
Format: 50 Overs
Venue: Maharana Pratap Ground, Dehradun
Time: 9:15 AM NST
Live Coverage: Sports Oodles YouTube Channel
The Squads
Nepal A will be led by Anil Sah, with a squad that includes Mayan Yadav, Trit Raj Das, Dev Khanal, Rashid Khan, Basir Ahmad, Narayan Joshi, Aakash Chand, Hemant Dhami, Pawan Sarraf, Deepak Dumre, Yubraj Khatri, Bipin Khatri, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Arjun Kumal.
Kerala, captained by Salman Nizar, bring a strong and experienced side to the table. Their squad features Mohammed Azharuddeen M (WK), Rohan S Kunnummal, Akshay Manohar, Krishna Prasad, Ahammed Imran, Varun Nayanar (WK), Shoun Roger, Abhishek P Nair, Asif Salam, Amal Ramesh, Sijomon Joseph, Fanoos F, Aswanth S Sankar, Aadhitya Baiju, and Sibin P Gireesh.
A Test of Ambition
For Nepal A, this tournament represents much more than just a series of matches. Facing quality domestic opposition from India in a 50-over format will test their temperament, skill, and readiness for higher-level cricket. A strong showing in the All India Gold Cup could go a long way in making a case for several players eyeing a spot in the senior national setup.
Nepal A Coach Raju Basnyat says, "This is a prestigious tournament in India. We believe it will develop positive energy among our players,” he said, adding that, “Playing here will boost the morale of Nepali players and will be rewarding in terms of experience."