KATHMANDU: The 18 member Nepali cricket team left for Dhaka, Bangladesh on Saturday to participate in the Under-19 World Cup Cricket tournament starting from February 15, various reports said.

Member Secretary of National Sports Council (NSC), Kishor Bahadur Singh bided farewell to the team comprising 14 players and four officials in a program organized at NSC premises.

The team led by Shakti Gauchan, will play their opening match against England on February 15 at M.A. Ajiz Stadium. Nepal placed in ‘B’ category will also face New Zealand, South Africa and Uganda in the first round.

The two winning teams from each group will advance to the Super league, while the remaining two teams will vie out for Plate championship, reports said.

The Nepali team will play four practice matches against Bangladesh beginning February 2 and also some friendly matches against other teams.Before departure, talking to the sports reporters, skipper Shakti Gauchan said that they would play every match to win. He further said, “We don’t aim to play in the Plate championship again.”

He also said, “Though we have been pitted against the teams like England and South Africa, we will do our best to make it to the Super league.”

The team comprises of Shakti Gauchan (Skipper), Yashwant Subedi, Manoj Katuwal, Lakpa Lama, Dipesh Khatri, Basanta Regmi, Munik Shrestha, Paras Khadka, Sarad Vesawkar, Raj Shrestha, Ratan Rauniyar, and Shashi Keshari. Coach Roy Luke Dias, Assistant coach Mahesh Rijal, TB Shah (Manager) and Upendra Bhattarai (official) are also accompanying the team.