Nepal Men's National Cricket Team departed for the ICC T20 World Cup on Saturday after losing 3-2 in the T20 series against West Indies 'A', which is full of 'T20 specialist' players. The T-20 World Cup will be held from June 2nd in the United States and West Indies. Nepal will be participating in the World Cup for the second time in 10 years. Fans from all over Nepal and around the world were eagerly awaiting this occasion. With cricket fever growing rapidly in Nepal, strong performances from the team are naturally expected. Patriotic young people who have developed a love for cricket are eager to win matches against cricketing powerhouses. Cricket lovers across the world, who are witnessing Nepal's rising prominence, are also hoping for a commendable performance. The outcome will hinge on the first four group stage matches that Nepal will play in the World Cup. Nepal are now in Group D and will face strong teams such as South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the formidable associate member Netherlands. Among them, Sri Lanka, a former World Cup champion, poses a major challenge. Nepal needs to defeat at least one Test team to revive the spirits of their supporters. Even if they can't do that, a victory against the Netherlands is essential. Such expectations from supporters and supporters are not unreasonable. However, the Nepal team's recent performance in various series has raised doubts. Winning two matches despite losing the home series against West Indies can be seen as a positive sign, but this alone cannot be used to judge the team's excellence.
The Nepali team's performance in the ACC Premier Cup held in Oman last month exposed the poor form of its key batsmen and consistently below-average bowling. Recently, teams have increasingly played their matches at their familiar 'home grounds', primarily the TU Cricket Stadium. Although practicing in India may offer a different experience, pitching in the Indian subcontinent tends to favor batsmen. The humiliating loss in the ACC Premier Cup could also be attributed to unfavorable external conditions. Caribbean pitches are known to favor fast bowlers, posing a challenge for Nepali batsmen who are used to slow bowling. It hasn't been that long since Pakistan's bowlers tormented Nepal's batsmen in the Asia Cup. Adding to the challenge is the inconsistent performance of teams under different circumstances. Moreover, Nepal's bowling unit has also come under criticism. Fast bowlers will play an important role in the Caribbean situation, but bowling remains expensive even in the 'death overs'. Nepal's biggest challenge is the lack of capable strike bowlers. Sonpal Kami, Nepal's most experienced fast bowler, will be playing in the World Cup for the second time. Even though he has established himself as Nepal's best bowler, his recent form is questionable. With the exception of Asif Sheikh and Anil Kumar Shah, most of the wicketkeepers are all-rounders, so the team lacks batsmen who can play long innings with patience. Another concern is the poor form of Kushal Bultel, once a prolific bowler. To compensate for Sandeep Lamichhane's recent bowling absence, coach Monty Desai handed the leg-spin responsibilities to Brutel. Brutel's performances against Ireland and West Indies 'A were average, but in a tournament like the World Cup such experiments may prove costly.
Nepal's batsmen will face a lot of pressure as they lack a strong start. Apart from captain Rohit Kumar Paudel, the other batsmen are not performing well, which shows that Nepal's batting line-up is weak as they approach a major tournament like the World Cup. As a result, Nepal's weak batting against world-class bowlers could have unintended consequences. These weaknesses of the Nepali team cannot be overlooked, as they are not only caused by the players, but also by the coaching and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). However, the current team seems focused on learning from weaknesses as well, but has yet to show much progress. It is essential to learn from past mistakes, such as losses to the UAE, Hong Kong and weaker teams. Unless players, administrators, and sometimes even critics move beyond the mindset of “at least the players have done their job, what has the nation given them in return?” It is important to realize that a person cannot advance to the next level. With three weeks left until the World Cup, it will be a litmus test of Nepali cricket's progress, effectiveness of coaching and improvement in management. The team's performance at the World Cup will shape its future, given the heavy investment by the country and the unwavering support from fans who demand excellence. A nation that recognizes good performance must also hold accountable its poor performers. With these considerations in mind, Nepal must prepare diligently for the World Cup and strive to have its players compete at the highest level and make history beyond mere participation. Good luck!