Nepal vs Hong Kong: Match preview

ICC World Cricket Cup 2013/2014

Just Nepali Cricket/January 18

Having great victory record against Hong Kong can't guarantee the win at this instant for Nepal as later already won the both matches at the ICC World Cup Cricket Qualifier 2014, where Nepal is yet to taste a success. Hong Kong is playing preeminent cricket thus far and Nepal will of course find complexity to prevail the team that have many overseas players from Pakistan and India.   

At the moment, Nepal is in big snag after losing consecutive matches against the UAE and Scotland. They still have leeway to reach super six stage but only two big triumph can illustrate some gesture of reprieve for the team that had a dream to play the World Cup for more than 13 years.

Before this tournament, Nepali team achieved very good result in cricket since the first edition of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. They particularly have been excellent in 50 over cricket including the title victory at Division Four, Division Three and ACC Elite Trophy. Now that winning touch is missing because of bad fortunate injury of captain Paras Khadka and Subas Khakurel. The team has been performing well without them however result was not in Nepal's favor.

In the other hand, Hong Kong players will be looking forward to maintain the winning run and they will want to take revenge of every defeat they have faced from Nepal in limited over cricket.

Team News:

Paras Khadka is not pleased to wait at bench whereas the team is playing the most important tournament in Nepal's cricket history. He is working very hard on the nets to recover. He said from New Zealand that, 'I am feeling quite good now but can't say how the body will react tomorrow'. He is very optimistic of his chances will have to wait until tomorrow morning for final decision. According to Physio Subramaniam Veerasammy, he is providing regular massage, medicine and strapping to Paras, therefore he may play next match but can't bowl seeing that it will hurt him badly. Just Nepali Cricket understands that the final decision about him will be taken tomorrow morning.

The coach Pubudu Dassanayake is unhappy with the team's batting and said he won't give any explanation for the fall down. 'Our batting failed twice so we won't do excuse for it'. But he is very optimistic of Nepal's chances for next round.

Moreover, the coach is very worried about Paras and said, 'Risking his career by asking him to play is not a very good thing and I don't want to make that happen'.

Likewise, Subash Khakurel is also not 100% match fit. Today, he came to bat at net and found difficulty in muscle due to weakness. He has very less chance to play the match. If he recovers on time he will play as pure batsman and can't complete the role of wicket keeper that will be shifted on Binod's shoulder again.

Nepal's probable XI:

Pradeep Airee/Subash Khakurel, Anil Mandal, Gyanendra Malla, Paras Khadka/Sagar Pun, Binod Bhandari, Sharad Vesawkar, Basanta Regmi, Prithu Bankota, Shakti Gauchan, Sompa Kami, Avinash Karna.

Nepal has no many options left at the moment where only fit player Avinash Karna is yet to play besides injured Paras Khadka and Subash Khakurel. Since Jitendra is not playing as expected Avinash can get an opportunity to take part in.  

If Subash unable to recover, Pradeep Airee is a good option to choose as an opener than Mahesh Chhetri For number seven Prithu may get another chance.

Hong Kong's probable XI:

JJ Atkinson, MS Chapman, MDC Ferguson, Haseeb Amjad, Irfan Ahmed, Nadeem Ahmed, Nizakat Khan, Tanwir Afzal, Waqas Barkat, MJW Wright, Aizaz Khan

Hong Kong is playing very good cricket in this tournament and they don't want to change their winning combination. They may choose Babar Hayat in place for Nizakat Khan, but Nizakat deserves another chance in the team. The match will be played on Mainpower oval, Rangiora, New Zealand from 3:15 AM NST tomorrow.

News about tournament format.

There is good news for the team that finished bottom of the table. There will be play off matches for those teams, who finished the fourth and fifth after completion of league round matches. According to the tournament rule, the fourth team in Group A will play the fifth of B and Fifth of Group A will face fourth of Group B. The winners of the match will play the 7^th place play off and both losers will complete for the 9^th place play off.