Rain Interrupts Nepal vs UAE 1st T20I as Hosts Post Modest Total in Historic Floodlight Match

The opening T20 International between Nepal national cricket team and United Arab Emirates national cricket team was disrupted by rain at the TU International Cricket Ground, halting play during a crucial phase of Nepal’s innings.

Match Interrupted by Rain

Nepal were batting at 122/8 in 18.5 overs when rain forced the match to stop. At the crease were captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Sandeep Lamichhane, trying to push the total to a competitive score.

Despite the interruption, Nepal managed to set a modest target for the UAE in this rain-affected encounter.

Nepal’s Batting Performance

Captain Dipendra Singh Airee led from the front, emerging as Nepal’s top scorer with a composed innings. Other notable contributions came from:

• Kushal Bhurtel – 16 runs
• Kushal Malla – 17 runs
• Bashir Ahmed – 14 (11 balls)
• Arjun Saud – 13 runs
• Sandeep Jora – 6 runs

Meanwhile, Gulshan Jha was dismissed early, while Nandan Yadav and Sher Malla also fell quickly as Nepal struggled to build strong partnerships.

New Era for Nepal Cricket

This match marks an important milestone for Nepal cricket:

• Introduction of a new captain and revamped squad
• First-ever international match played under floodlights at home
• Return to T20 format after the recent ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Additionally, young player Hemant Dhami made his T20I debut, adding fresh energy to the squad.

Series Overview

The match is part of a two-match T20I series being held in Kirtipur. Both teams will be eager to gain momentum once weather conditions improve and play resumes.

Rain played spoilsport in what was shaping up to be an exciting contest, but Nepal showed glimpses of promise with a balanced performance. With a new leadership setup and young talents stepping up, the team looks focused on building a strong future in international cricket.