T20 World Cup: Nepal face UAE in Chennai today
The match will be played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai, India, with the first ball scheduled for 5:15 pm (local time).
KATHMANDU: The Nepal national cricket team, intensifying preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, will take on familiar rivals United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their first official warm-up match today.
The match will be played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai, India, with the first ball scheduled for 5:15 pm (local time).
With the World Cup group-stage matches fast approaching, today’s encounter is considered crucial for Nepal to assess their strengths and identify areas needing improvement.
The team has already featured in several practice matches in India and Sri Lanka as part of its build-up.
Nepal enjoyed an impressive start in Mumbai, where they defeated the MCA President’s XI in both practice matches.
However, the Rhinos faced tougher challenges during a three-match series against Sri Lanka ‘A’, managing to secure only one victory.
Playing in Chennai conditions is expected to provide a valuable confidence boost for the Nepali squad, especially with subcontinent pitches likely to play a key role during the tournament.
Following today’s match, Nepal are scheduled to play their second warm-up fixture against Canada on Thursday.
Nepal’s World Cup Schedule
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from Feb 7.
Nepal will face a demanding group featuring several strong cricketing nations.
Nepal will begin their World Cup campaign on Feb 8 against defending champions England.
They will then face Italy on Feb 12, West Indies on Feb 14, and Scotland on Feb 16.
