Allrounder Kushal Malla has been named in Nepal's 15-member squad for the Asian Games. This will be Dipendra Singh Airee's first time leading Nepal in a multi-team tournament featuring Full Members. He replaced Rohit Paudel as Nepal's T20I captain after the T20 World Cup in February, and also led them at the Asian Games Qualifier in May-June.
Malla missed the T20 World Cup earlier in the year, but since his comeback in April, he has scored 130 runs, including an unbeaten 85 against China. He is one of only five Nepal batters with over 1000 T20I runs. He has also taken six wickets with his left-arm spin since his return.
Allrounder Basir Ahamad, who was included in the T20 World Cup squad and also featured against UAE in the bilateral series, has been left out.
The squad also includes experienced campaigners such as ODI captain Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Karan KC and Sompal Kami. Gulsan Jha and Airee will add further all-round options, while offspinner Sher Malla, who made his debut against England in the T20 World Cup, is also in the squad. He has picked up eight wickets in four matches so far.
Nepal's spin department will also feature Lalit Rajbanshi, apart from Lamichhane and Sher, while Karan, Kami and Nandan Yadav form the core of the pace attack.
The men's event of the Asian Games will commence on September 24 in Nisshin, Japan, with the final to be played on October 3. Nepal will face Afghanistan and Japan on September 25 and 26 respectively.
Nepal squad for Asian Games
Dipendra Singh Airee (capt), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel, Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Sundeep Jora, Lokesh Bam, Sandeep Lamichhane, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla
