Nepal face confident Japan in crucial Group B clash

Nepal will look to continue their winning momentum when they face Japan in the Group B clash of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier 2025 at Al Amerat on Friday. Both teams began their campaigns with victories, setting up an exciting encounter that could play a key role in determining the group standings.

Nepal's solid start

Nepal kicked off their qualifiers with a commanding 58-run win over Kuwait, thanks to a composed half-century from Kushal Bhurtel (66 off 56) and disciplined bowling from Lalit Rajbanshi (2/17), Rohit Paudel (2/9), and Sandeep Lamichhane (2/22).

Gulshan Jha's late cameo of 20 runs off just 6 balls provided the finishing touch to Nepal’s total of 141/7 before the bowlers wrapped up Kuwait for 83 in 18.1 overs.

Skipper Rohit Paudel will once again rely on his side's balanced attack and improving batting depth as Nepal aim to secure back-to-back wins and strengthen their bid for World Cup qualification.

Japan's confident victory

Japan, one of Asia's fast-emerging cricketing nations, stunned Kuwait with a five-wicket win in their first match, chasing down 178 in 19.3 overs.

The standout of the day was debutant Esam Rahman, who announced his arrival in international cricket with a brilliant 64 off 39 balls. Born in Japan to Bangladeshi parents, Rahman later moved to Australia, where he developed his game representing clubs such as Adelaide University CC, Tracy Village CC, and Queanbeyan District CC. He even earned a rookie trial with Sydney Thunder in 2017 before returning to represent Japan.

Another key performer, Sabaorish Ravichandran, scored a fluent 39 off 29 balls. The Chennai-born allrounder’s cricketing journey took him from Ambattur’s Dunlop Ground to Sano International Cricket Ground in Japan. With 902 runs and 48 wickets in 40 matches, the 33-year-old brings invaluable experience and leadership to Japan’s middle order.

Ravichandran recently told Sportstar, "T20 is anybody's game. Nepal recently proved that against the West Indies. We are hoping to cause some big upsets in the upcoming qualifiers. It will be a monumental achievement to qualify for the World Cup."

Japan's captain, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, 25, also embodies the team's multicultural blend. Born in Fukuoka, Japan, to an Australian father and Japanese mother, he moved to Australia at age six and played age-group cricket in Queensland. His all-round abilities and calm leadership have been instrumental in shaping Japan’s new cricket identity. He currently plays in Grade A Premier cricket in Brisbane.

What's at stake

With both teams unbeaten in Group B, this fixture carries significant weight. A win for Nepal would put them in pole position to reach the next stage, while Japan will aim to continue their remarkable rise with another upset.

Key players to watch

• Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane
• Japan: Esam Rahman, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, Sabaorish Ravichandran

Pitch and conditions

The Al Amerat surface has offered consistent bounce and good value for shot-making. However, teams chasing under lights have often benefited from slightly easier batting conditions. Winning the toss could prove crucial.