Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) announced that a T20 Triangular Tournament, involving the Club and two ICC Associate Nations, will be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 29, 2018.
Nepal and Netherlands will both do battle with MCC on Sunday, July 29, with three Twenty20 games taking place in one day. The first match will begin at 10.00am, with the final clash of the day beginning at 4.30pm.
Both Nepal and Netherlands have recently been granted full One-Day International status by the ICC, with the former earning the honor for the first time following their performance in the recent ICC World Cup Qualifiers. The Netherlands had already been elevated to ODI status by virtue of their victory in the ICC World Cricket League last year.
The appeal of cricket in Nepal has increased dramatically in recent years, with the national team having been awarded international T20 status by the ICC in 2014 before competing in the ICC World Twenty20 in the same year.
Nepal made their debut at Lord’s in 2016 in a match arranged to mark the 200 year relationship between Britain and Nepal. A crowd of around 5,000 mainly Nepalese supporters watched as their side defeated MCC by 41 runs.
It will be the first time that the Netherlands have played at Lord’s since 2012 when they competed in the ECB’s 40-over competition. Their most famous day at the Home of Cricket came in the opening match of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, when they shocked hosts England by claiming victory by four wickets.
MCC Head of Cricket, John Stephenson, said: “We are thrilled that both Nepal and the Netherlands will be joining us at Lord’s for what is set to be another uplifting day at the Home of Cricket following Afghanistan’s historic visit last year.
“We expect to be able to field an MCC side with some big names which will certainly make for a competitive day of cricket. We look forward to welcoming supporters of all competing sides to create what we hope will be a great atmosphere at Lord’s.”
Nepal captain, Paras Khadka, said: “It gives me immense pleasure that Nepal will play at the Home of the Cricket again this year with MCC and the Netherlands. Playing at Lord’s is always special and we are really looking forward to it.
“I urge all cricket lovers, and especially the British Nepalese diaspora, to come and support the event and the Nepal team.
“I would also like to thank MCC and especially John Stephenson who has been working hard to promote Associate Nations. MCC and Nepal Cricket have been working together and have a wonderful relationship which we hope will continue to grow.”
Netherlands Head Coach, Ryan Campbell, said: “Anytime a cricketer is given the opportunity to play at Lord’s, it is something they should cherish and will think of for the rest of his life.
“For us to be invited to play there against the MCC and Nepal will be a very special occasion and I’m sure all of our players will be doing everything they can to gain selection into that squad.”
(Originally published at the MCC site.)