Nepal face New Zealand in first match of U-19 World cup

Kathmandu : Nepal will prepare for their ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh with official warm-up matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, schedule announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday .

Nepal, which is in Group D along with New Zealand and three time champions Australia and India, will take on New Zealand in its opener of the ICC U-19 World Cup to be hosted by Bangladesh. Nepal will open their ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup campaign with a match against New Zealand at Fatullah, Bangladesh on January 28.

The tournament will begin on January 27 with 16 teams 10 Test playing nations and six Associate and Affiliate Member sides Nepal, Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji, Namibia, and Scotland vying for the youth World Cup title in Bangladesh.

photo : Nagarik

The six qualifiers joined the 10 Test playing nations in the World Cup through regional and global qualifying tournament.

Nepal, who had qualified for five consecutive editions from 2000-2008 and in 2012, failed to make it to the Finals in 2010 and 2014. Nepal had entered the Super League round in 2000 edition in New Zealand and won the Plate Championship beating the Black Caps in 2006 in Sri Lanka.