BY A STAFF REPORTER, Kathmandu, Oct. 25: Nepal will host the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time alongside Bangladesh from January 21 to February 6, 2027, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiling the groups and fixtures for the tournament.
The Tribhuvan University (TU) International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu will host matches in Nepal, while Chattogram and Sylhet will stage games in Bangladesh.
Nepal have been drawn in Group A alongside India, Ireland and the West Indies, with all their group-stage matches scheduled at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Nepal will begin their campaign against Ireland on January 22 before facing India on January 24. They will conclude their group-stage fixtures against the West Indies on January 26.
The tournament will feature four groups, with the top three teams from each group advancing to the Super Six stage, which begins on January 27. The semi-finals and final will be held in Chattogram, Bangladesh.
The tournament marks a significant milestone for Nepalese cricket, providing the country with an opportunity to showcase its infrastructure and organisational capabilities while giving the home side a chance to compete against some of the leading teams in women’s youth cricket.
Ahead of the global event, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has scheduled two preparatory tours in November to strengthen the team’s match fitness and tactical readiness.
Nepal’s preparation will begin with the Belt and Road series in China from November 3 to 8. The team will play six matches against Thailand, China and Hong Kong, China, facing each opponent twice.
Nepal will open the series against Thailand on November 3 before taking on China on November 4 and Hong Kong, China, on November 5. The return fixtures will see Nepal face Thailand again on November 6, China on November 7 and Hong Kong, China, on November 8.
Following the China tour, Nepal will travel to Bengaluru, India, for a tri-series at the Centre of Excellence (COE) from November 12 to 22. The competition will feature India A and India B alongside Nepal, offering the young players an opportunity to test themselves against strong opposition.
Nepal are scheduled to face India B on November 12 and India A on November 14.
They will meet India A again on November 20, before the final is scheduled for November 22.
The two preparatory assignments are expected to provide Nepal with valuable international exposure ahead of their home World Cup campaign. Matches against regional opponents in China will help the squad build consistency, while the Bengaluru series will offer a more demanding test against India’s youth teams.
Playing a World Cup on home soil will bring added expectations for Nepal’s young cricketers. Their performances in the November tours will be important in assessing the team’s readiness, identifying areas for improvement and building combinations ahead of the tournament.
With the World Cup approaching, Nepal will look to make the most of their preparation schedule and home advantage as they prepare to compete against established cricketing nations on the global stage.
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