Best Nepal Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023 Revealed

Best Nepal Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023 Revealed. Nepal will be participating in the Asia Cup 2023. This is their second Asia Cup tournament after the 2018 edition. Nepal is placed in Group A alongside India and Pakistan. They take on Pakistan in their first match of the tournament. 

Nepal is ranked 15th in the ICC ODI rankings. They will be led by a 20-year-old who has won 15 out of 20 ODI matches this year. The side won 11 out of the 12 matches in the World Cup League 2 event to secure a spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. 

Nepal can certainly spring in a surprise against teams like Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have been inconsistent in recent times. Nepal has named a 17-member side and will be travelling for the tournament without Sandeep Lamichhane. 

The 23-year-old is facing rape charges and is out on bail at the moment. Due to the legal situation, he is obligated to remain in Nepal to stand trial. The alleged rape incident involves a 17-year-old girl and allegedly took place in a Kathmandu hotel room in August last year. The leg-spinner, who was the face of Nepal cricket not very long ago, has maintained his innocence and refuted all accusations against him.

While Sandeep Lamichhane is still in Nepal for the trials, there is a possibility that he could join the team soon for the upcoming Asia Cup. According to a report in The Times of India, the star bowler is expected to attend the upcoming court hearing regarding his case on Sunday.

Nepal have announced a young and inexperienced squad and we take a look at their best possible playing XI for the tournament. 

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Asia Cup 2023: Best Playing XI For Nepal

Kushal Bhurtel

Kushal Bhurtel should open for Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023. The left-handed batter has been amazing in 2023 so far, hitting 470 runs in 15 ODIs at an average of 39.16. With 1 ton and 3 fifties, he has maintained superb form this year. Overall, he has played 44 ODIs and inching closer to 1000 runs. 

Aasif Sheikh (WK)

Aasif Sheikh will be a good opening partner for Kushal Bhurtel. He will also be a good man behind the stumps. Aasif Sheikh has been the leading run-getter for Nepal in 2023, smacking 492 runs in 15 games at an average of 37.84 including 1 ton and 4 fifties.

Rohit Paudel (C)

Rohit Paudel is the captain of the Nepal team and should lead the team in Asia Cup 2023 as well. The right-handed batter should bat at a one-down position. Paudel has played 15 ODIs this year and slammed 412 runs with 3 fifties, averaging over 30. Overall, he has played 52 ODIs scoring over 1500 runs. 

Bhim Sharki

Bhim Sarki will be a nice addition to Nepal’s playing XI in Asia Cup 2023. The right-handed batter accounts for 287 runs in 9 One Day Internationals in 2023. He has also slammed 2 half-centuries and owns a magnificent average of 41.0. He has yet to pick up a wicket in ODI cricket. 

Kushal Malla

Malla can bat in the middle-order at number five. The left-handed batsman has scored 470 runs in 15 ODIs so far in 2023 at an average of 39.16, smacking 1 ton and 3 half-centuries. After Aasif Sheikh, he is the second-highest run-getter in ODIs for Nepal this year.

Aarif Sheikh

Bowling all-rounder Aarif Sheikh can slot in at six. In 9 ODI innings in 2023, he has mustered as many as 226 runs averaging 28 +. He has also shattered 1 half-century. He also picked up two wickets in six games this year. 

Sandeep Lamichhane

 Sandeep is running a race against time to be available for the first game. He did not travel with the squad for the tournament for his court hearing. With 35 scalps in 13 ODIs this year, he is the most crucial bowler in the lineup. He will be the most crucial spinner for Nepal in the tournament.

Gulsan Jha

The right-arm seamer is an all-rounder who accounts for 5 wickets in 8 games this year. With the bat, he has hit 188 runs in 7 games in 2023. He scored an unbeaten 67 against UAE in the Premier Cup 2023 which allowed Nepal to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023.

Sompal Kami

Kami will lead Nepal’s pace attack in the tournament. He has picked up 12 wickets in 15 ODIs this year though at a high average. Overall he has picked 63 wickets in 47 ODIs. He can get to 50 ODIs in this tournament. 

Karan KC

Karan is a right-arm medium-fast bowler for Nepal. The right-arm pacer has hunted as many as 18 scalps in 13 ODIs in 2023 and is the most successful pacer for the team this year. He has bowled at an average of 29.27 and an economy of 5.68. 

Lalit Rajbanshi

Left-arm spinner Lalit concludes the best possible playing Xi for Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023. He picked up 14 wickets in Sven ODIs this year and was the second-highest wicket-taker for the side.

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