Nepal to make ODI debut against the Netherlands

Kathmandu, May 24 / Nepal will play their first two ODIs against Netherlands on the 1st and 3rd of August, it was revealed Wednesday (May 23). The two matches will take place at as-yet-undisclosed venues in the Netherlands immediately following the two nations’ T20 tri-series with the MCC at Lords, which is scheduled for the 29th of July.

The two sides last met at the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in March, with the Dutch side winning the seventh-place playoff by 45 runs at Kewkwe, after Nepal had secured ODI status by besting PNG at Harare two days earlier. Though both countries had by then secured ODI status – Netherlands by sealing the World Cricket League Championship title with a victory over Namibia in Dubai back in December – the match was not an official ODI as the ICC awarded the two sides status only after the conclusion of the tournament.

The games will be the first ODIs hosted in the Netherlands since the Dutch welcomed South Africa for a one-off match at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen in May 2013, and will also mark the Netherlands’ return to ODI cricket after an absence of almost five years, their last recognised ODI coming against Canada at the World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand in January 2014, the tournament where they lost their status.

Nepal’s most recent visit to the Low Countries was in August of 2016, when the two sides shared honours in two List A internationals in the fourth round of the World Cricket League Championship.

“We’re delighted to welcome Nepal for their first ODIs, and our first ODI on home soil since 2013. After the honour of being invited to play at Lord’s, we look forward to showing our home fans what we can do. Nepal are an exciting team as we’ve all seen from the IPL Sandeep Lamichanne is a world class player, will be a privilege to have them here. Nepal have always drawn good crowds in Holland, I’m sure it will be a great occasion,” Netherlands coach Ryan Campbell told.