Nepal and U.A.E. are favourites to lift the Youth Asia Cupt-2001 that begins in the capital from Thursday.
Nepal will play Oman in the opening Group B match. Singapore and Maldives are other countries in the group. U.A.E., Malaysia, Qatar and Kuwait are in Group A.
Minister for Sports Amod Prasad Upadhaya formally inaugurated the cricket tournament at a dinner in the city Wednesday night.