adminKATHMANDU. – Nepal’s cricketers have been given a hero’s welcome on their return home from the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.
Three consecutive defeats in the group stage of the CWCQ ended Nepal’s chances of qualification for the Super Sixes, but a win over Hong Kong in the last Group B game and then victory over Papua New Guinea in their playoff gave their campaign the result they craved, even though they signed off with a loss against the Netherlands.
As a result of their performances, Nepal’s many enthusiastic supporters – who flocked to the airport in their droves to offer their vocal support for what the players had done – can look forward to their 50-over matches having full ODI status for the next four years at least.
Seventeen-year-old leg-spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane was one of the finds of the tournament. He picked up 13 wickets and played a crucial role in both of Nepal’s victories. His 3/17 against Hong Kong helped set up a win chasing just 154, and his 4/29 against PNG skittled the opposition for 114 to put Nepal in charge.
Both Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates were a part of the last ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015, but while UAE are already out of the race for a spot in the 2019 edition, Afghanistan are still in the hunt, if only just.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan take on UAE at Old Hararians today knowing that they need nothing but victory.
While the Afghans won their first Super Six match against Windies, they had carried no points into the round from the group stage and consequently sit in fifth spot in the points table with two points.
UAE also came in with zero points and lost to Scotland, in their first Super Sixes clash, and are bottom of the table.
The most they can get to, if they can beat Afghanistan first and then Zimbabwe, is four points, which won’t be good enough for them. But, if they do beat Afghanistan, it will end the campaign for them, and that’s what UAE must be aiming for. – ICC.
Online Reporter