Nepal vs UAE T20 warm-up on at Fatullah

KATHMANDU: The national cricket team will play two warm-up matches, against Ireland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ahead of their maiden ICC World Twenty20 appearance in Bangladesh in March.

Nepal will meet Ireland in a day/night match Fatullah on March 12 which is also going to be the first encounter between the two sides in any format of senior cricket. After a day rest, Nepal meet the UAE for a day match at the same venue.

Nepal will begin their ICC World Twenty20 campaign with the Group A match against Hong Kong on March 16 before playing hosts Bangladesh on March 18. They will finish the preliminary round with the match against Afghanistan on March 20. Only the winner of the group will join the top eight Test playing nations in the second round.

Nepal are making their first ever appearance in the ICC World Twenty20 after finishing third

in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers held in November last year at the UAE. Nepal had defeated the hosts to finish third in the tournament.

The schedule of warm-up matches (Men’s): Before first round:

Mar 12: Bangladesh v UAE (1530-1830) at Fatullah; Ireland v Nepal (1930-2230) at Fatullah; Afghanistan v Netherlands (1530-1830) at ZACS Chittagong; Zimbabwe v Hong Kong (1930-2230) at ZACS Chittagong.

Mar 14: Nepal v UAE (1530-1830) at Fatullah; Bangladesh v Ireland (1930-2230) at Fatullah; Afghanistan v Zimbabwe (1530-1830) at MA Aziz Chittagong; Hong Kong v Netherlands (1930-2230) at MA Aziz Chittagong.

Before Super 10 stage:

Mar 17: New Zealand v Pakistan (1530-1830) in Mirpur; Sri Lanka v India (1930-2230) in Mirpur.

Mar 18: West Indies v England (1530-1830) at Fatullah; South Africa v Bangladesh A (1930-2230) at Fatullah.

Mar 19: Sri Lanka v West Indies (1530-1830) in Mirpur; England v India (1930-2230) in Mirpur; Australia v New Zealand (1530-1830) at Fatullah; South Africa v Pakistan (1530-1830) at Fatullah.

Women’s warm-up matches:

Mar 18: Australia v Sri Lanka (0930-1230) at BKSP 3, Dhaka; New Zealand v India (1330-1630) at BKSP 4, Dhaka; England v Pakistan (0930-1230) at BKSP 3, Dhaka; West Indies v South Africa (13301630) at BKSP 4, Dhaka.

Mar 20: Pakistan v Bangladesh (0930-1230) at BKSP 3, Dhaka; Sri Lanka v Ireland (1230-1630) at BKSP 4, Dhaka.

Mar 21: Australia v West Indies (0930-1230) at BKSP 3, Dhaka; South Africa v Bangladesh (1330-1630) at BKSP 4, Dhaka; England v New Zealand (0930-1230) at BKSP 3, Dhaka; India v Ireland (1330-1630) at BKSP 4, Dhaka.