Mehboob Alam is dropped from the national squad of the World Cricket League Division 4 in Malaysia while former captain Binod Das has made a return.
According to a source at the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), all-rounder Alam and opener Paresh Lohani have not been included in the 18-member preliminary squad to be announced shortly.
CAN is required to submit the squad by July 25.
This is the first time in 16 years that the national team is being announced without a national event. CAN has asked coach Pubudu Dassanayake for recommendation for the team.
Mehboob Alam bowls against Argentina. Photo by International Cricket Council
Mehboob, probably the most popular name in Nepal’s cricket for his hard-hitting capacity and 10-wicket haul against Mozambique, and Paresh, who had made a return to the national squad in World T20 Cup Qualifiers, both failed to perform in the Qualifiers in UAE.
Dassanayake excluded Mehboob in two matches in the Qualifiers – first time in long time that he watched the country’s match from the pavilion. Mehboob scored 34 runs in 7 matches and took only one wicket.
Paresh too failed to impress making only 24 runs in four matches in the Qualifiers, for which he was called after he declared himself unavailable for the national team training for the ACC T20 Elite Cup.
Mehboob, Paresh and Binod all debuted for national team in 2000. Binod, one of the most successful Nepali pacer who had captained the U-19 and senior teams, has been given a final opportunity to prove himself. After average performance in ACC T20 Elite Cup, where he was only given limited opportunity, Binod was dropped from the national team.
Other members to be announced for the team include captain Paras Khadka, veteran spinner Sanjam Regmi, U-19 captain Prithu Baskota, U-19 vice-captain Pradeep Airee, Rahul BK, Subash Khakurel, Sarad Vesawkar, Gyanendra Malla, Anil Mandal, Shakti Gauchan, Basant Regmi, Amrit Bhattarai and Chandra Saud.
Those four players named as alternative players include Mahesh Chhetri, Sagar Pun and Krishna Karki.
CAN is preparting to send 10 players to Sri Lanka on August 15 for a special training.