Nepal Eyes History on Home Soil: 26-Member Preliminary Squad Announced for Critical World Cup Qualifier
By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Dec 04, 2025 16:12 PM • 28 views
KATHMANDU, December 4 — The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has officially signalled the start of its most ambitious campaign yet, announcing a 26-member preliminary squad for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 Global Qualifier. The players will report to a high-intensity closed camp at Mulpani starting Friday, as the nation prepares to host the pivotal tournament early next year. This selection marks the first step toward what could be a historic achievement: securing a berth at the 2026 T20 World Cup in England.
Home Advantage at Mulpani
The stakes could not be higher for the Rhinos. The Global Qualifier is scheduled to run from January 12 to February 1, 2026, utilising both the Upper and Lower grounds in Mulpani, Kathmandu. Hosting the event provides Nepal with a distinct edge, allowing the team to leverage familiar conditions and home crowd support. However, the path to England will be gruelling. Ten nations will battle for four World Cup spots, meaning nearly half the field will advance—a massive opportunity for Associate nations.
The Road to Qualification
Nepal finds itself in Group B, a challenging pool that includes Asian rivals Bangladesh, along with Namibia, Papua New Guinea, and the Netherlands.
Group A features a heavy-hitting lineup comprising Ireland, Scotland, Thailand, the USA, and Zimbabwe.
The tournament structure is designed to reward consistency. Following a single round-robin group stage, the top three teams from each group will advance to the "Super 6" stage. Points carried forward, and further round-robin matches will determine the final standings, with the top four teams from the Super 6 punching their tickets to the main event in England in June 2026.
A Mix of Youth and Experience
The preliminary squad reflects a balance of seasoned veterans and emerging talent. Long-time stalwarts like Rubina Chhetri and Sita Rana Magar return to anchor the side, bringing over a decade of international experience. They are joined by captain Indu Barma and key all-rounders like Kabita Kunwar and Puja Mahato, whose recent performances have been vital for the national side. The inclusion of talents like Sony Pakhrin and Seemana KC suggests that selectors are looking for dynamic options to field against higher-ranked opposition such as Bangladesh and Ireland.
Official 26-Player Preliminary Squad
Rubina Chhetri, Sita Rana Magar, Indu Barma, Bindu Rawal, Kajol Shrestha, and Roma Thapa. Kabita Kunwar, Kabita Joshi, Puja Mahato, Asmina Karmacharya, Ishwari Bist, Riya Sharma. Samjhana Khadka, Rajmati Airee, Somu Bista, Rachana Chaudhary, Rubi Poddar, Sana Praveen, Alisha Yadav, Sony Pakhrin, Laxmi Saud, Manisha Upadhyaya, Seemana KC, Anu Kadayat, Kiran Kunwar, and Mamata Chaudhary.
The Bigger Picture
The road to this qualifier has been long. Nepal earned their spot through the Asia Qualifier in Malaysia, alongside Thailand. Meanwhile, teams like Bangladesh and Scotland secured their places automatically via their participation in the 2024 T20 World Cup. With the training camp commencing Friday, the coaching staff will have just over a month to trim this list and fine-tune a starting XI capable of making history. For Nepali cricket, January isn't just about hosting a tournament; it's about taking the final step onto the global stage.
