Nepal Women's Cricket Team Eyes ICC Challenge Trophy Glory in Rwanda

Kathmandu. Captain Indu Barma has expressed confidence that the Nepali national women's cricket team will return home as champions of the ICC Women's Challenge Trophy in Rwanda.

Speaking at a farewell program organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Wednesday ahead of the tournament starting April 13, Captain Indu stated that the team is ready. The tournament features five nations: host Rwanda, Nepal, Italy, the USA, and Vanuatu.

Highlighting recent improvements in fielding, Captain Indu said, “We have analyzed the opponents' strategies. Arriving a day early to understand the conditions will be an advantage for us.”

She credited the arrival of Indian coach Harshal Pathak for positive changes within the team. She noted that players have been given specific roles in batting and bowling, focusing on attention to detail and handling pressure. She emphasized that playing against strong nations is a positive step for the team and expressed confidence in achieving good results.

CAN announced the 14-member squad under Indu's captaincy on Monday, following a month-long closed camp under coach Pathak.

Coach Pathak stated that preparations have been excellent, with notable improvements in fielding and batting. He mentioned that players have been trained in fielding placement, game awareness, and playing under pressure. He noted that while the team is talented, they have worked to address minor weaknesses during the camp.

Pathak expressed optimism, noting that the players' readiness to face challenges is a positive sign and that the inclusion of young players is crucial for team building. He believes the return of captain Indu, who is also a strong batter, has bolstered the team. He added that the team will formulate strategies based on the opponents' playing styles and expects a successful outcome.

The final 14-member squad was selected after two rounds of cuts from an initial 29-member pool. The team includes captain Indu, vice-captain Puja Mahato, former captain Rubina Chhetry, Bindu Rawal, Samjhana Khadka, Rubi Poddar, Kabita Joshi, Kabita Kunwar, Riya Sharma, Roma Thapa, Suman Bisht, Anu Kadayat, Manisha Upadhyaya, and Rachana Chaudhary.

• Match Schedule:

In the double round-robin tournament, Nepal will play its first match against the USA on April 18. Nepal will also face Italy on April 18, Rwanda on April 22, and Vanuatu on April 24.

In the second round, Nepal is scheduled to play against the USA on April 26, Rwanda on April 28, and Vanuatu on April 30. Nepal will face Italy in the final league match on May 1.