Nepal’s next challenge is Canada

KATHMANDU, AUG 03 -

Having completed the Dublin leg of the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier on top with six points from four matches, Nepal, take on Canada in the second leg at Bready, Ireland on Wednesday.

At Dublin, the players had just started to get used to the playing condition and the crowd consisting of Nepali residing in Dublin had been a huge boost to the players’ morale.

But the team will now head to a different part of the country, where they will again have to get used to the wickets. However, coach Jagat Tamata is not very concerned about the rest of the tournament as he believes his team are getting better with every game.

“ With the progress of the tournament our confidence has slowly risen and now we are not only thinking of qualifying which is just a matter of one more win but clinching the winner’s title as well,” Tamata said, “We have finally gelled in as a team and the batsmen are also finding their form.” He reckons Canada will not be much of a challenge to his boys as Canada have not been phenomenal so far in the tournament. Nepal, despite having equal points as Namibia and host Ireland, take the pole poison on better run rates while Canada are fourth on the table with four points from as many matches.

Tamata’s confidence soared after two key batsmen, Sagar Pun and Naresh Budhayair, who had not been able to perform, clicked in the last match against Vanuatu. Both of them had stroked a half-century each helping Nepal register a comprehensive 159 runs victory over Vanuatu on Monday.

Canada, on the other hand, will look to amend their three wickets defeat against Kenya in their last match, when they play Nepal.

The only concern for the 46-year-old coach against Canada is Nitin Kumar, the player who was a member of the Canadian team that had participated in the 2011 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

“I have been telling the boys a single player cannot make much of a difference if we play as a unit,” Tamata added. Wicket keeper Subash Khakurel, who had missed the last match due to hamstring is unavailable on Wednesday. Pradeep Airee had stood behind the stumps in place of Khakurel in the match against Vanuatu.

Elsewhere, host Ireland play Vanuatu, Afghanistan entertain Namibia, Scotland face USA and Kenya take on Papua New Guinea.