Nepal Captain Rohit Paudel Demands Regular Matches Against Full Member Nations After T20 World Cup Performance

Mumbai. Nepali national cricket team captain Rohit Paudel has called for regular fixtures against 'Full Member' (Test-recognized) nations. He expressed dissatisfaction that despite their strong performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Nepali players have not received the expected 'exposure' since then.

After narrowly losing to South Africa by 1 run in a dramatic fashion in the 2024 World Cup, Nepal has only had the opportunity to play a three-match T20 series against the West Indies in Sharjah in September 2025.

Speaking ahead of the match against Italy, Paudel stated, 'Not playing against big teams in a two-year gap shows that we haven't received the exposure and experience we anticipated after the World Cup. It is very important for us to test our skills against good teams, but it feels like we haven't gotten that chance.'

In Rohit's view, continuous opportunities to play against top-tier opponents are essential for the development of Nepali cricket. He remains hopeful that this situation will change after the current World Cup.

'It's not necessary to play 6-7 series a year, but we could have proven ourselves with at least 1-2 series. It would be great if we got regular opportunities to play against them. I hope the situation will change after this World Cup,' he said.

Referencing Nepal's tough challenge against England in their opening match of the ongoing World Cup, Rohit mentioned that such games demonstrate Nepal's capability to compete at a high level.

'It means a lot, especially if teams like Australia or England come to Nepal,' he added. 'It will show the world of cricket that Nepal also plays cricket, and plays good cricket. This World Cup has already shown that. If any team, be it Australia, England, or India, comes to Nepal, our cricket will develop, and it will help globalize cricket.'

Nepal narrowly missed making history while chasing a target of 185 runs in the match held in Mumbai. Rohit stated that despite the disappointment of that loss, the team's morale remains high, and they will learn from it in the next three matches.

'Yes, there is disappointment. But the way we played against England, who are considered contenders for the tournament, has given us a lot of confidence as a group,' Rohit said. 'It is important how we execute our plans under pressure. We have played a lot of cricket now, and the players know how to handle pressure in front of large crowds.'

According to Rohit, the close matches against England and South Africa in 2024 have brought Nepali cricket into the 'spotlight'. He mentioned that praise from legends like Dale Steyn has further encouraged the team.

Rohit views having all four of Nepal's matches at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai this edition as a significant advantage. 'The Asian conditions and having all matches at Wankhede is beneficial for us. The pitch here matches our style of play,' he concluded.