Pratishna Regmi 

Despite limited resources, Nepal's U-19 women’s cricket team has reached the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Their journey to the global stage has been marked by relentless effort and determination. The players are aware of the challenges of competing against the cricketing powerhouses but are committed to showcasing their skills against nations with better facilities and training.

As the tournament approaches, the team is in the final stages of preparation. From the qualifiers to post-qualification training, the players have been continuously honing their skills. They also gained valuable experience by participating in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup, where they defeated Pakistan, a Test-playing nation. Although their game against India was interrupted by rain, reaching the Super Four boosted the team's confidence, which they aim to carry into the World Cup.

The team's enthusiasm is evident, according to head coach Mahesh Prasad Rizal. "Nepal had not achieved much in women’s cricket for a long time. Qualifying for the U-19 World Cup has boosted the players' morale," Rizal said. "They are highly motivated to represent Nepal on such a big platform."

Nepal’s history in women’s cricket is relatively short, with the senior team making its international debut in 2007. Now, the U-19 team is determined to make their mark and bring recognition to the country through their skills.

Nepal earned its spot in the World Cup by outperforming UAE, Thailand, and Kuwait in the regional qualifiers. The tournament begins on January 18, 2025, in Malaysia. Nepal is placed in Group D alongside Australia, Bangladesh, and Scotland.

The team completed a 10-day training camp in Chitwan before shifting to the Mulpani Cricket Ground for final preparations. This is the second edition of the Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup, but Nepal is participating for the first time, aiming to achieve remarkable results in their debut.

The World Cup features the host nation Malaysia, 10 Test-playing countries, and five teams, including Nepal, that qualified regionally. Other regional qualifiers include Nigeria (Africa), Samoa (East Asia Pacific), Scotland (Europe), and the USA (Americas).

Nepal's performance in the Asia Cup drew attention after they defeated Pakistan and reached the Super Four stage, though their game against Sri Lanka was disrupted by rain. However, their loss to Bangladesh was disappointing. Coincidentally, Nepal will face Bangladesh again in their opening World Cup match, followed by matches against Scotland and Australia.

“We defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup,” said captain Puja Mahato. “We aim to beat at least one Test-playing nation in the World Cup.”

The tournament includes 16 teams divided into four groups, with the top three from each group advancing to the Super Six stage. Nepal’s target is to secure a spot in the Super Six, where they can gain valuable experience for the future.

The team’s balanced composition is its strength, according to vice-captain Soni Pakhrin. “Our squad is well-balanced, with strong batting and bowling sides. We are ready for the World Cup.”

This historic achievement marks the first time a Nepali women’s team has reached such a high-level competition. With high expectations from fans and international attention, the players are eager to make their country proud.

Nepal’s squad for the tournament includes Puja Mahato (Captain), Soni Pakhrin (Vice-captain), Sana Praveen, Jyotsnika Marasini, Kusum Godar, Alisha Kumari Yadav, Savitri Dhami, Tirsana BK, Kiran Kunwar, Riya Sharma, Rachana Chaudhary, Seemana KC, Sneha Mahara, Anu Kadayat, and Krishma Gurung.