Nepal vs Afghanistan: Spotlight on Key Players

KATHMANDU: Today, the anticipation reaches its peak as Nepal clashes with Afghanistan in a pivotal match of the ICC U-19 World Cup at the Buffalo Park Cricket Ground in East London, South Africa, starting at 1:45 PM.

With both teams grappling with defeats in their initial two encounters, this fixture transforms into a virtual knockout scenario.

Nepal, positioned in Group D, faced a 64-run setback against New Zealand and a five-wicket defeat against Pakistan.

The pressure is palpable, as Nepal must secure a win to advance to the next stage. Afghanistan, equally determined, seeks victory to progress to the subsequent round.

In Group D, Pakistan and New Zealand have already notched up two consecutive victories, earning them four points each and securing a spot in the Super Six.

Nepal and Afghanistan, however, find themselves without points. The winner of today’s clash will clinch a coveted place in the next round.

The 15th edition of the U-19 World Cup in South Africa features 16 nations divided into four groups. Nepal shares Group ‘D’ with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and New Zealand.

The top three teams from each group will advance to the next stage, where 12 countries will be divided into two groups for the Super Six matches.

Players in the Spotlight:

Afghanistan:

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar: A 16-year-old off-spinner drawing parallels to Mujeeb ur Rahman, his name surfacing in T20 league auction lists.

Hassan Khan Eisakhil: Following in the footsteps of his famous father, Mohammad Nabi, this batsman recently scored a half-century in the team’s preparation tri-series match against India.

Afghanistan Squad:

Naseer Khan (C), Numan Shah (VC & WK), Hassan Eisakhil, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Ali Ahmad Nasar, Jamshid Zadran, Sohail Khan Zurmati, Rahimullah Zurmati, Allah Mohammad, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Bashir Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad, Zahid Afghan. Reserves: Wahidullah Zadran, Nasir Hassan, Usman Shinwari

Nepal:

Dev Khanal: The skipper with experience in the Nepali senior team.

Gulshan Jha: Another seasoned player from the senior team.

Arjun Kumal: Showcasing impressive performances in warm-up play and the ACC U19 Asia Cup.

Durgesh Gupta: A left-arm seamer excelling in junior domestic cricket.

Nepal Squad:

Dev Khanal (c), Arjun Kumal, Aakash Tripathi, Dipak Prasad Dumre, Durgesh Gupta, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Dipesh Prasad Kandel, Bishal Bikram KC, Subhash Bhandari, Deepak Bohara, Dipak Bohara, Uttam Rangu Thapa Macar, Bipin Rawal, Tilak Raj Bhandari, Akash Chand

The match guarantees high stakes and riveting cricket, with both teams fiercely competing for a coveted spot in the next round. The stage is set for a thrilling showdown of emerging cricket talent.