After the three-match Twenty20 Series against Hong Kong got washed out due to incessant rain in Dambulla, Nepal will expect to be in action in the one off 50-over game against the same side at the Army grounds in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday.
As no action was possible at the water-logged Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, organizers Asian Cricket Council and Sri Lanka Cricket have opted for a rescheduled programme for both the teams beginning with the one-day game on Sunday followed by a Twenty20 International at the P Sara Stadium in Colombo on Monday.
Since the match has been categorised as List A cricket by the International Cricket Council, it will give Nepal some consolation with another Twenty20 International in the waiting line. With the tournament cut-short, Nepal will now pray for clear skies to be in action finally after six days. Coach Pubudu Dassanayake is desperate to have a game.
“After six days of no-cricket, we are hoping to get a game if weather permits. We have always wanted to play games at the international level but we cannot complain if weather washes away our games. The conditions here seem far better than that of Dambulla. We are hopeful that we will get a game tomorrow,” Dassanayake told The Kathmandu Post from Colombo.
Nepal left for their Sri Lanka tour with two new faces in Karan KC and Rajesh Pulami with both featuring in the two three-day matches that was held in Kurunegala from November 9-16. Both impressed in their debut with the national team and Dassanayake is likely to field them against Hong Kong. Pulami made 131 runs in three innings and KC picked up eight wickets in four.
“The match against Hong Kong will allow us to try out a few combinations,” said Dassanayake adding there is a high possibility of both the newcomers playing on Sunday. While Naresh Budhayer and Subash Khakurel will be primed to open the innings, Gyanendra Malla and skipper Paras Khadka will be performing the responsibility of holding the innings from the middle order.
With fast bowler Sompal Kami going with the best form, he will be a unanimous pick for Dassanayake along with spinner duo Shakti Gauchan and Basanta Regmi. Hard hitter Binod Bhandari and all rounder Sagar Pun can be assured of their spots.
Hong Kong have been running with a poor form having lost to Papua New Guinea 2-0 in a two-match ODI series held before their Sri Lanka tour in Australia.
They had also lost a three-day game against the same side after the one-day series. Nepal had defeated Hong Kong by seven wickets under Duckworth/Lewis Method in the ACC Premier League game held in Malaysia on May 5 this year.
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