Nepal Faces UAE in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League-2 Clash at Kirtipur

Kathmandu. In the 98th match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League-2, Nepal is set to face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today at their home ground in Kirtipur. The match, scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM at the TU International Cricket Ground, sees Nepal aiming to leverage home advantage and crowd support to secure a victory.

Currently, Nepal sits in 7th place in the League-2 points table, having recorded 5 wins and 13 losses in 18 matches. The UAE is at the bottom of the table, with 5 wins and 15 losses from 20 matches. A win today is crucial for both teams to improve their standings.

The average score at the Kirtipur ground is 215 runs in the first innings and 195 runs in the second. For Nepal, Aarif Sheikh is the top scorer with 463 runs, while Sandeep Lamichhane leads the bowling attack with 23 wickets.

Nepal's opener Kushal Bhurtel is in excellent form, having recently played a memorable 84-run innings against the UAE in the T20 series. Additionally, Sandeep Lamichhane's bowling variations are expected to pose a significant challenge to the UAE batters.

For the UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu are the key batters, with Waseem having scored 501 runs in the tournament. In the bowling department, Junaid Siddique, who has already taken 26 wickets, could prove dangerous for Nepal.

Given the home advantage and their recent success in the T20 series against the UAE, Nepal is considered a strong contender in today's match. This game will be decisive for Nepal's climb toward the top of the League-2 table.