Nepal

Nepal Men’s Cricket Team History

Cricket was first introduced to Nepal in the early 20th century by the ruling Rana clan. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) was established in 1946, and it became an Associate member of the ICC in 1996, the same year Nepal played their first international match. However, the board faced a significant setback when it was suspended by the ICC in 2016 due to government interference, and the suspension was only lifted three years later.

Nepal showed promise at the Under-19 level from the 2000s onwards, but it wasn’t until they qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time in 2014 that they achieved a major breakthrough at the senior level. In their debut World Cup game, which was also their first T20I, Nepal beat Hong Kong by 80 runs and also secured a win against Afghanistan in the tournament. Since then, Nepal have been making strides in Associate cricket, gaining ODI status for the first time in 2018.

The year 2023 marked a significant milestone for Nepal, as they secured a spot at the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier after finishing third on the CWC League 2 table. They also qualified for their first Asia Cup by winning the ACC Men’s Premier Cup. Nepal wrapped up the year by qualifying for the T20 World Cup 2024 for the first time in a decade. Although they went winless in the 2024 edition, they bounced back in the 2026 edition, winning a match against Scotland.

In 2025, Nepal achieved a notable feat when they beat West Indies 2-1 in a three-match T20I series, their first bilateral series against a Full Member. This win showcased Nepal’s growing prowess in international cricket.