Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has asked to stage the final Cricket World Cup League 2 round against Oman and Canada at home if the series cannot be played in Oman, secretary Paras Khadka has said, with Nepal's ODI status riding on the outcome.
Speaking to Kantipur Sports at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Khadka said nothing had been settled. Official confirmation has not arrived, he said, adding that Canada is officially out as a venue and that the Oman leg is in an ICC review and evaluation process because of the crisis in the Middle East. Cricket Association of Nepal has made its approach, he said: if Oman cannot host, Nepal is ready to take the matches at home. He did not claim the switch, and the decision rests with the ICC.
The stakes are straightforward. Nepal sit seventh in the 2024-26 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 table on 24 points from 32 matches, with 11 wins, 19 losses and two ties, and this is the last series of the cycle. A top-six finish is required to retain ODI status. Oman are fourth on 31 points from 28 matches and Canada sixth on 25 from 32, which leaves Nepal needing a strong return from the round rather than a split.
Nepal arrive at it in form. Sandeep Lamichhane's side won the ACC Men's Premier Cup with a 44-run win over the UAE in the final, sealing a second Asia Cup qualification, and the squad has since left for the Asian Games in Japan.
NPL still waiting on ICC sanction
Khadka confirmed the third season of the Nepal Premier League has not yet received full ICC sanction. Cricket Association of Nepal has cleared almost all the criteria and filed the required paperwork, he said, and expects the letter shortly, possibly within the week, once the process is completed against the ICC's checklist. "Almost everything has come out very positively," he said. Franchises are waiting on the same letter to complete overseas player signings, and the association will also push to have its premier domestic Twenty20 presented with T20 status.
Kathmandu Gorkhas have confirmed Australia batter David Warner as their marquee signing. Asked about social media reports linking Sudurpaschim Royals with Heinrich Klaasen and Biratnagar Kings with Quinton de Kock, and about whether Faf du Plessis would play season three, Khadka confirmed none of them and said the picture would become clear in time.
No decision yet on DRS
On the Decision Review System, Khadka said no final call has been taken for season three. Cricket Association of Nepal is coordinating with the bodies involved in the technology and has asked for testing with the franchises, but integration depends on the broadcast production being finalised first. It comes down to cost, he said, and a green signal would follow once the production unit is confirmed.
Beyond the League 2 round and the Nepal Premier League, Nepal host Bangladesh for a three-match T20I series in March 2027, the first men's bilateral series between the two sides and Bangladesh's first tour of Nepal, on 26, 28 and 30 March at Kirtipur. Nepal also co-host the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup in 2027 alongside Bangladesh, qualifying automatically as hosts.
