Sawt Falasteen - Nepal skipper eyes new summit with 'nothing to lose' at T20 World Cup

The Himalayan nation stunned the two-time T20 World Cup winners West Indies last year for their first series win over a Test-playing side in the shortest format.

It gave them huge belief ahead of the 20-team event starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka that they can repeat the feat and take down one of the cricketing powers.

Nepal will face the West Indies again in Group C alongside another two-time champion, England, and debutants Italy.

Bangladesh, who are refusing to play in India, were also drawn in the group, but look likely to be kicked out and replaced by Scotland.

Paudel and his team are currently in Colombo, practising ahead of their opener against England on February 8 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

"As a team, we have everything to gain from here," Paudel, who at 23 is the youngest captain at the event, told AFP.

"Nothing to lose, and we can play freely. We will try to showcase our skills in front of the world."

The 17th-ranked Nepal will not have any group matches in Sri Lanka.

But it is a sign of their confidence that they opted to train in Colombo as preparations for the subsequent Super Eight round, where they would play in Sri Lanka if they qualify as one of the top two in the group.

"Realistically, I think beating a Test-playing country would be a great opportunity for all of us," Paudel said

"Reaching the Super Eight would be another one, so we are eyeing that spot.

"But the first aim is to play the best brand of cricket we know. And we will try to do that."

- Small nation, big dream -

Cricket does not enjoy the same adulation in Nepal as it does in neighbouring South Asian nations where the game dominates popular culture.

But interest has surged over the past decade.

Nepal made their T20 World Cup debut in 2014 and returned in 2024, pushing South Africa and Bangladesh close in narrow defeats.

The International Cricket Council granted Nepal one-day international status in 2018, a milestone that helped accelerate investment and fan interest.

Domestic competitions such as the Nepal Premier League have drawn growing crowds and commercial backing, further widening the talent pipeline.

Team manager Prabal Gautam said training in the Sri Lankan capital was to help players adapt from the cool Himalayan climate to the heat and humidity further south.

Players initially struggled with temperatures above 30C in Colombo, he said, but were gradually acclimatising.

"This is the first step of practice matches before the World Cup, just to cope with the weather and to play quality cricket," Gautam told AFP.

The squad plan further sessions in Mumbai before their group matches tournament and fancy their chances of going further.

"Being a small nation, being a small cricketing team, we also have a dream of winning the World Cup," Gautam said, adding dreams can come true.

"First we had a dream of playing in a World Cup.

"Now this is our third time at a World Cup."

X.Habash--SF-PST