Nepal Captain Asks Big Cricket Teams to Tour Nepal

Nepal's captain, Rohit Paudel, has voiced a strong appeal for leading cricket nations, including England, to schedule tours in Kathmandu. This call follows Nepal's commendable performance in the recent T20 World Cup, where they narrowly lost to England. Paudel's remarks underscore a desire to elevate the profile of cricket in Nepal and provide his team with more opportunities to compete against established international sides.

The central issue is Nepal's aspiration for greater international cricket engagement, directly linked to their perceived progress and the potential for globalizing the sport.

Context of the Appeal

Following a narrow four-run defeat against two-time champions England in the T20 World Cup, Rohit Paudel expressed both pride and disappointment. He highlighted the team's commitment, stating, "I think today we gave everything." The captain also emphasized that the team's performance, particularly their close contest with England, served as a clear signal to other participating nations.

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• Nepal's efforts to secure more matches with top teams after the World Cup have, thus far, been unsuccessful.

• The West Indies are noted as the only Test-playing nation to have recently played Nepal in a bilateral series, a three-match T20 series held last year.

• The narrow loss to England, where Nepal finished just four runs short of the target, has amplified Paudel's call for increased international fixtures.

• Paudel's statements suggest a shift in perception, where Nepal is no longer viewed as a participant solely for the sake of being present, but as a competitive force.

Evidence of Performance and Ambition

The data from the T20 World Cup match against England provides a foundation for Paudel's assertions.

Kathmandu's Support and Global Reach

The support from Nepal's capital was a significant factor during the match.

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"The whole of Kathmandu came to support us." - Rohit Paudel (Source: 3)

This demonstrates a strong domestic fan base eager to see their national team compete. Paudel's appeal to tour Kathmandu is also framed as a move to globalize cricket:

"This World Cup has shown that. It will help globalise the cricket more." - Rohit Paudel (Source: 1)

Team's Growth and Future Outlook

Paudel consistently emphasized the team's development and the lessons learned from challenging encounters.

• The close match against England is seen as proof of Nepal's progress on the global stage.

• The captain’s repeated assertion, "We will not take any team lightly," signals a newfound confidence and respect from opposing sides.

• The performance indicated that Nepal is not merely participating but is a force capable of challenging established teams.

Expert Analysis and Global Cricket Dynamics

The calls for greater international exposure for associate nations like Nepal are not new. Historically, such teams strive for more bilateral series and inclusion in multi-nation tournaments to enhance their playing standards and financial stability.

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• The T20 World Cup's format often provides a platform for associate nations to demonstrate their capabilities, as seen with Nepal's performance against England.

• Inviting tours to countries like Nepal would require significant logistical and financial commitments from established cricket boards, but could yield substantial rewards in terms of cricket's global spread.

• The success of teams like Afghanistan and Ireland in achieving Test status serves as a precedent for other associate nations aspiring to reach similar heights.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Rohit Paudel's appeal represents a clear and direct request for increased bilateral engagement from top cricket-playing nations, with a specific focus on tours to Nepal. The team's spirited performance against England in the T20 World Cup has provided tangible evidence of their growing prowess, serving as a compelling argument for such opportunities.

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• Nepal seeks to leverage its World Cup showing to secure future fixtures beyond major tournaments.

• The ambition extends beyond competitive play to the broader goal of globalizing cricket.

• Future steps would likely involve direct engagement between the Cricket Association of Nepal and international cricket governing bodies and boards to explore scheduling possibilities.

• The current situation highlights the ongoing challenge for associate nations in securing consistent, high-level international competition.

Sources

• The Global Herald: https://theglobalherald.com/sport/cricket/nepal-captain-urges-england-and-other-top-sides-to-stage-tours-after-world-cup-performances/

• NDTV Sports: https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/disappointment-is-there-but-very-proud-of-the-team-nepal-captain-rohit-paudel-after-narrow-loss-to-england-10970359

• News18: https://www.news18.com/cricket/nepal-captain-after-heart-breaking-loss-to-england-whole-of-kathmandu-came-to-support-us-ws-lno-9888485.html

• Cric Today: https://crictoday.com/cricket/news/nepal-captain-issues-warning-to-other-teams-after-thrilling-match-against-england/

• Cricket Age: https://www.cricketage.in/2026/02/08/not-here-just-to-participate-nepal-captain-sends-warning-after-scaring-england/

• New Kerala: https://www.newkerala.com/news/a/t20-wc-we-gave-everything-says-nepal-captain-572.htm

• The Indian Express: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rohit-paudel-eng-vs-nep-t20-world-cup-mumbai-10521089/

• ETV Bharat: https://www.etvbharat.com/en/sports/cricket/nepal-captain-rohit-paudel-proud-of-team-despite-narrow-t20-world-cup-loss-to-england-enn26020804148