In a group consisting of former champions Sri Lanka, as well as experienced teams from South Africa and Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal will meet in their first match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
The two associate members of the International Cricket Council will play for pride and a chance to pick up two crucial points in the so-called “group of death” in their match at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday.
For Nepal captain Rohit Paudel, it will be the realization of a lifelong dream when he leads his team in their first match of the tournament against Scott Edwards' Netherlands.
“He [the game] “It is very important for us, especially for Nepal Cricket,” Paudel said in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“It was our dream, when we were kids we wanted to play in the World Cup. Tomorrow we will have the opportunity and we are very excited. We also have responsibilities and we will make the most of them.”
Nepal returns to the T20 World Cup after a gap of 10 years and three editions. The South Asian team won two of their three group matches in their debut tournament in the 2014 edition in Bangladesh, but have since failed to qualify.
The enormity of the occasion was not lost on Paudel, who said he got “goosebumps” thinking about the game.
Paudel said his team has been feeling nervous ahead of the tournament, but is ready to take on one of its closest rivals in the associate cricket circuit.
“We have played a lot against Holland and they are a very balanced team: the team that handles the pressure well will win.”
“Both teams will start from the same line; whoever plays better cricket will win.” 🇳🇵🌍
We are well prepared for the match and we are all looking forward to executing the plan. 🏏
Captain Rohit Paudel at the pre-match press conference
📸: CPI… pic.twitter.com/DhwBE5wcLO
– MAY (@CricketNep) June 4, 2024
Holland distrusts the Nepal team and fans
Netherlands coach Ryan Cook said his team will be careful about the threat posed by Nepal.
“Nepal has been a team on the rise,” Cook told reporters.
“We have played against them recently and their team has many nuances. “They have a lot of versatile players, a lot of depth and a lot of bowling options.”
The coach of the Dutch team believes that both teams are even.
“They are improving day by day, as are we as a team.”
Nepali supporters are expected to pack the party headquarters in suburban Dallas, home to a large South Asian community in Texas.
Cook said the Dutch will not be intimidated by his presence.
“I'm sure there will be a big Nepali crowd tomorrow and we're not expecting that much support, but we've played in front of that crowd before. They are extremely respectful and support cricket as much as they support their own team.
“We're going to rock out with a little bit of orange that we have, but I know everyone will be behind us at home.”
💪 #StrongerTogether#T20WorldCup #nordek pic.twitter.com/A4KomjbeyR
— Cricket🏏Netherlands (@KNCBcricket) June 1, 2024
Field and weather conditions.
Dallas hosted the opening match of the tournament, which turned out to be a high-scoring encounter that the United States won well into the night.
While the field is expected to remain the same, dew will not come into play as it will be a day game, with the sun beating down on the ground.
Head to head
Nepal and Netherlands have faced each other on a few occasions recently with their most recent meeting coming in a T20 international series (T20I) in Kirtipur, Nepal.
The Dutch beat the hosts 2-1 in the close series, as well as in their overall head-to-head record. They have won six of their 11 T20Is, while Nepal have won five.
Shape
Both teams come into the match with an uneven state of form, but they will try to leave it behind in the most important match.
Netherlands: LLLWW
Nepal: LLWWW
dutch team news
Michael Levitt could make his T20 World Cup debut thanks to his recent form with the bat.
Equipment: Scott Edwards (captain), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek, Max O'Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi.
nepal team news
Record-breaking great Nepali batsman Dipendra Airee will be the one to watch with the bat in a team packed with all-rounders.
Equipment: Aasif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel, Sundeep Jora, Rohit Paudel (captain), Karan KC, Kushal Malla, Pratis GC, Sompal Kami, Anil Sah, Abinash Bohara, Gulsan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kamal Airee, Sagar Dhakal.
