The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced the squad to participate in the ACC trophy -the premier cricket tournament for non-test playing countries in the Asia region.
CAN published 14 names along with two officials and two coaches. Binod Das is captain while Shakti Gauchan is deputy. Other players are Manoj Vaishya (wicket-keeper), Paresh Lohani, Dhirendra Chand, Kanishka Chaugai, Raj Kumar Pradhan, Sharad Veshawkar, Gyanendra Malla, Paras Khadka, Raju Basnet, Mehboob Alam, Akash Gupta and Basant Regmi.
The new face in the squad is Akash Gupta, a Bhairahawa batsman while Raj Kumar Pradhan, a leg-spinner, who was axed in the probable 18, was included in the team. Mehboob Alam, who left the country to play and work in Qatar a few months ago, will join the team from there. It is learnt that CAN is to bear all expenses of Mehboob Alam.
The axed players from the squad are Manoj Katuwal, a wicket keeper and Sanjam Regmi, an off-spinner. Regmi, Amrit Bhattarai, Manoj Katuwal and Bijaya Thapa are in reserve list. The name was published by the selection committee headed by Bijaya Kumar Sharma.
Thakur Pratap Thapa would take the charge of the team as manager while Asha Gurung will be his deputy. Jung Bahadur Thapa would assist Roy Dias. In the meantime, CAN has informed that the team would travel to Pakistan for three practice matches against the National Cricket Academy before leaving for Malaysia for the August 12-26 event.