A traditional rivalry

26 months ago, the equation was similar when Nepal and UAE faced each other at Al Amirat in Muscat. It was a semi-final match of Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers. The winning team reached the final and had the opportunity to qualify for the Twenty20 World Cup. The match on February 22, 2022 was not in favor of Nepal. Nepal was deprived of reaching the Twenty20 World Cup.

Even though UAE made a score of 102-2 in the first 11 overs, Nepal made a good comeback. As UAE started, it was Nepal's success to stop UAE with a score of 175-7. But Nepal, unable to play as a team, was bowled out for 107 runs in 18.4 overs. By stopping Nepal, UAE managed to reach the Twenty20 World Cup.

Nepal has taken revenge for that. Nepal has reached the Twenty-20 World Cup with a comfortable 8-wicket win against UAE in the semi-finals of the Asia Qualifiers of the Twenty-20 World Cup held in Kathmandu in November. Next June, Nepal is going to America to play Twenty-20 World Cup. The ACC Premier Cup currently being held in Oman is also a good preparation for Nepal.

In the case of both Nepal and UAE, qualifying for the Asia Cup is equally important. Last year, Nepal defeated UAE in the finals in Kathmandu and reached the Asia Cup for the first time and got the opportunity to play India and Pakistan. It was of ODI structure. Nepal is on the verge of qualifying for the Twenty20 Asia Cup for the first time.

This journey of Twenty-20 is not so easy. Nepal and UAE are two traditional rivals. For both of them, who have been playing regularly in recent years, a win against each other will be of great importance. Especially, the success achieved in the competition like the Asia Cup qualifiers will boost the morale of the team. In the last one year, Nepal seems to be playing with high morale as they have defeated UAE in Asia Cup Qualifiers and Twenty-20 World Cup Qualifiers.

Nepal has reached the semi-finals of Premier Cup Twenty20 with 100 percent victory. Nepal defeated Malaysia, Qatar, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia in the group stage. Nepal has been showing the same game as it plays with the opponent. While the team participating in the tournament is showing very aggressive batting, Nepal has yet to play its natural game. Nepal, which is not very difficult until the semi-finals, has an opportunity to show its natural game against UAE.

In the second match against Qatar, Dipendra Singh Airi hit 6 consecutive sixes in the last over. Gulshan Jha batted as per the team's need at crucial moments against Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Dipendra was selected player of the match against Malaysia and Qatar and Gulshan against Saudi Arabia. Due to this performance of Dipendra, he has risen to the 11th position in the Twenty-20 international all-rounder world rankings.

Without top-order batsman Vritya Arvind, UAE looked a little weaker than in the past. In the first match against Kuwait, the team narrowly avoided defeat. After that, UAE beat Bahrain and lost to host Oman in the third match. UAE secured their place in the semi-finals after defeating Cambodia in the last match of the group stage.

UAE is not able to find balance in bowling. Against UAE, Kuwait scored 178-8, Bahrain scored 199-8. The match between UAE and Oman was affected by rain. Oman completed the target of 143 runs in 15 overs given by UAE in 12.4 overs. Oman will face Hong Kong in the other semi-final. UAE bowled out Cambodia for 76 runs and completed that target in 5.1 overs.

Nepali bowlers have to give their best against UAE batting. Asif Khan has scored 211 runs in 4 matches, Alisan Sarafu has scored 189 runs and captain Mohammad Wasim has scored 158 runs. Wasim has a batting strike rate above 188, Sarafu 187 and Asif 171. In the tournament, Asif Sheikh scored 126 runs and Dipendra scored 111 runs from Nepal. Asif has a strike rate above 129 and Dipendra 246.

Batters with good strike rates like Kushal Bhurtel and Kushal Malla need to get back into rhythm against UAE. Bhurtel scored 68 runs and Malla scored only 44 runs. Nepali leading bowlers have been doing well. Avinash Bohra has taken 7 wickets, Dipendra 6 and Lalit 5. Dipendra and Lalit have spent just over 6 runs per over and Avinash has spent just under 8 runs. The two main bowlers, Sompal Kami and Karan KC, are yet to come into form. Sompal has not taken any wicket in 3 matches. He was not played against the Saudis. Karan has also managed to take only 3 wickets in 3 matches.

Nepal's bowling has improved significantly since West Indies' Rod Astwick was brought in as bowling coach. Especially in Nepal's major problem, Nepal is doing well now in death bowling. It will be a challenge for the Nepalese bowlers to continue this improved performance against the UAE.