KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has confirmed a 15-player squad led by Dipendra Singh Airee for the men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
The squad features former captains Rohit Paudel and Sandeep Lamichhane alongside experienced players Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Aarif Sheikh, Karan KC and Sompal Kami.
Kushal Malla, Sundeep Jora and Lokesh Bam provide power-hitting options, while Nandan Yadav joins Karan and Sompal in the pace department. Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi and Sher Malla form the frontline spin group.
Compared with the squad that contested the Asian Games Qualifier in Singapore, Gulshan Jha and Lalit have been included, while left-arm spinner Shahab Alam has missed out.
Lamichhane recently captained Nepal to the ACC Men's Premier Cup title in the 50-over format, but Dipendra remains in charge of the T20 side.
Nepal have been drawn in Group A alongside Afghanistan and hosts Japan. They will open their campaign against Afghanistan at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on September 25 before facing Japan the following day.
The top two teams from the group will advance to the quarter-finals. Finishing first would set up a meeting with Sri Lanka, while the Group A runners-up will face defending champions India.
Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have received direct entry into the knockout stage as the four seeded teams.
The men's T20 competition will run from September 24 to October 3, with the gold-medal match scheduled for the final day.
Nepal produced a record-breaking campaign at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou. Kushal struck a 34-ball century against Mongolia—the fastest in men's T20Is at the time—while Dipendra completed a nine-ball half-century in the same match.
Nepal squad: Dipendra Singh Airee (captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel, Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Sundeep Jora, Lokesh Bam, Sandeep Lamichhane, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi and Sher Malla.
