Off-spinner Sher Malla will make his first appearance in Nepal colours after being named in the 15-strong squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Captain Rohit Paudel again leads the side, with fellow all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee confirmed as vice-captain.
Chief selector Raju Basnyat explained the decision to include the 20-year-old spinner. “Sher’s consistency in the Nepal Premier League made the discussion simple. We needed another attacking option and he earned it.” Malla finished the 2025 NPL as joint-leading wicket-taker, claiming 17 wickets in ten matches at an economy rate of 6.50 runs per over, and played a central role in Lumbini Lions’ title run, which also secured him the Emerging Player award.
Basir Ahamad is the other fresh face, returning to the national set-up in place of left-hand batter Kushal Malla, who featured during last October’s qualifying campaign. “Leaving Kushal out was difficult,” Basnyat admitted, “yet the balance demanded an extra bowling all-rounder.”
The core of Nepal’s squad remains intact. Paudel anchors a batting group that includes the aggressive Kushal Bhurtel and the dependable Aasif Sheikh at the top of the order. Airee and seam-bowling all-rounder Gulshan Jha are expected to provide late-innings acceleration.
Spin continues to be Nepal’s main strength. Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane heads the attack, supported by Lalit Rajbanshi’s left-arm orthodox, Airee’s part-time off-spin and the newly selected Malla. Karan KC, Sompal Kami and teenager Nandan Yadav will share the pace duties, with Jha offering a fourth seam option.
Head coach Monty Desai believes the squad has progressed since the 2024 tournament, where Nepal pushed South Africa and Bangladesh close without securing a win. “The margins at this level are tiny,” Desai said. “We now have players who’ve experienced that pressure and understand what it takes to finish games.”
Paudel echoed the sentiment. “We learnt plenty two years ago,” he said. “This time the focus is on turning those narrow defeats into victories.”
Nepal open their Group C campaign against England on 8 February at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, the venue for all four of their pool matches. Fixtures against the United States, Pakistan and hosts India follow.
Squad: Rohit Paudel (capt), Dipendra Singh Airee (vc), Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam.
