Nepal vs Hong Kong: Nepal will play its third match in the ICC U19 World Cup Asia Qualifier against Hong Kong on April 16, 2025. The game will begin at 9:30 AM at the Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu.
Nepal’s Performance So Far
Nepal has won both of its first two matches. In the opening game, they defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using the Duckworth-Lewis method. In their second match, they comfortably beat Oman by eight wickets while chasing down a target of 118 runs. The openers, Sahil Patel and Niraj Yadav, gave strong starts, with Yadav scoring 46 runs.
In bowling, Yuvraj Khatri made a big impact, taking five wickets against Oman. Santosh Yadav also played a key role in the win over the UAE, claiming three crucial wickets. The strong performances from both the batsmen and bowlers have been key to Nepal’s victories.
Afghanistan’s Standing
Afghanistan has also won both of their matches, beating Oman and Hong Kong by big margins. Although both Nepal and Afghanistan have two wins, Afghanistan has a better net run rate, putting them ahead on the points table.
Upcoming Matches
On the same day, Afghanistan will face the UAE at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground. If both Nepal and Afghanistan win their respective matches, the game between Nepal and Afghanistan on April 19 will decide which team will qualify for the 2026 U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Key Players for Nepal
Nepal’s batting has been solid, thanks to openers Sahil Patel and Niraj Yadav, who have consistently provided strong starts. In the bowling department, spinners like Santosh Yadav and Yuvraj Khatri have been instrumental in securing victories. The team is led by captain Naren Bhatta, with players such as Abhishek Tiwari, Cibrin Shrestha, Roshan Bishwakarma, Darsh Sonar, and Dilsad Ali contributing to the team’s success.
Tournament Format
The ICC U19 World Cup Asia Qualifier follows a round-robin format, with five teams: Nepal, Oman, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and the UAE. Each team plays against the others once. At the end of the group stage, the team with the most points will qualify for the 2026 U19 World Cup.
Stay tuned for live updates and scores as Nepal faces Hong Kong in this important qualifier match.
