By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Aug 10, 2025 15:05 PM • 141 views
KATHMANDU — The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has officially sent off the national cricket team for their upcoming campaign in the Top End T20 Series in Australia, a key step in their build-up to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup qualifiers. At a farewell event held on Sunday, National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising, CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand, Secretary Paras Khadka, and other dignitaries extended their best wishes to the squad, encouraging them to deliver strong performances on Australian soil. The Darwin-based tournament, running from August 14 to 24, will pit Nepal against a mix of domestic Australian teams and international sides, providing invaluable match practice ahead of October's Asia and East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Oman. Nepal's opening fixture will be on August 15 against the local Northern Territory Strikers. According to the schedule released by Northern Territory Cricket, the Rhinos will then face Bangladesh 'A' on August 16, Melbourne Stars on August 18, Hobart Hurricanes on August 19, Melbourne Renegades on August 20, and Pakistan Shaheens on August 22.
The matches will be staged across DXC Arena, TIO Stadium, and Kazali Arena, venues known for their fast outfields and competitive conditions — a perfect testing ground for Nepal's batting and bowling units.
Following the Darwin series, Nepal is set for another high-profile challenge — a three-match T20I series against the West Indies — before heading to Oman for the qualifiers that could secure their spot in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
With a demanding schedule ahead, this Australian tour offers Nepal the chance to fine-tune strategies, adapt to foreign pitches, and gain momentum before the all-important qualifiers.
