Spinner Shahab Alam and batsman Ashif Sheikh have been included in the 15-member national squad announced for the Tri-Nation Series twenty20 cricket tournament taking place at the TU ground in Kirtipur from April 17 to 24.

The duo have made to the final cut for the first time in T20 International. Among 20 players from the closed camp, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Sandip Jora, Bikram Sob, Pawan Saraf and Lokesh Bam have been released.

Nepal is set to play the series involving the Netherlands and Malaysia. The event will be played in the double round robin format and the top two teams at the end of the league will compete in the final. Nepal will take on the Netherlands in the opener on Saturday.

Nepal squad: Gyanendra Malla (captain), Dipendra Singh Airee (vice captain), Paras Khadka, Binod Bhandari, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandip Lamichhane, Abhinash Bohara, Aarif Sheikh, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Shahab Alam, Kamal Singh Airee, Sushan Bhari.