ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 Teams & Players

nepal team profile

Nepal will be making its sixth appearance at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, having played every event between 2000 and 2008. It did not qualify for the 2010 tournament in New Zealand, having lost to Afghanistan in the semi-finals of the regional qualifying event by six wickets. As a result, the team did not move through to the global qualifier.

Nepal U19s qualified for the 2012 tournament by virtue of its performance in the regional qualifying event, held in Thailand in 2011. The team won all of its group matches to reach the final, which it lost to Afghanistan by 61 runs. The two finalists qualified for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier that was held six months later, and Nepal went on to win seven of its nine matches to finish in second position and secure one of the six spots available at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012.

In July 2012, Nepal U19s competed in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2012, where the team finished third in its group after losing to both Pakistan and India, but beating Malaysia by a convincing 107 runs. The team did not make it to the semi-finals, but will be pleased to have some match practice in the lead up to the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. Impressive performances from Rahul Kumar Vishvakarma against India (three wickets for 35) and Malaysia (five wickets for 30), as well as a half century from Sagar Pun (71 from 90 deliveries), should give the team confidence for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, though it faces a tough group, having never beaten Australia or England in the tournament.