Former Nepal national team captain Gyanendra Malla has marked comeback in the national squad after nearly one and a half year as he was named in the Nepal’s squad announced for Kenya tour on Tuesday.

Nepal are scheduled to visit the East African nation for a five-match Twenty20 International Series and three One-Day games scheduled from August 25 to September 5. The Kenya tour, to be played under captaincy of Sandeep Lamichhane, will also be the first assignment of newly appointed Indian coach Manoj Prabhakar.

Apart from Malla, Shahab Alam and Bivek Yadav have also been recalled in the national side while youth cricketer Arjun Saud has been named in the national team for the first time in the 16-member squad.

Senior member of the squad and wicketkeeper-batter Binod Bhandari and opener Kushal Bhurtel are among the regulars of the national team excluded from the Kenya tour. Both of them were in Nepal’s squad for the Scotland Series of the ICC World Cup League 2 played in July.

Malla had been excluded from the national squad since Nepal’s ICC World Cup League 2 match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Dubai Cricket Stadium in March last year. He played last T20I match against Oman during Nepal’s World T20 Qualifiers match against hosts Oman in February.

The left arm spinner Alam, who has played four T20Is for Nepal, last featured for the national side during Oman Quadrangular T20I Series in February last year. All-rounder Yadav, who has played five T20I in the national jersey, last played for Nepal in the World T20 Qualifiers match against Oman in February last year. Saud is the wicketkeeper of the U-19 national team.

Jitendra Mukhiya, Bhim Sharki, Pratish GC and Hari Shankar Shah are named as the reserves.

Nepal’s T20I matches against Kenya are scheduled for August 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30. Nepal will play the 50-over matches against the same opponents on September 2, 3 and 5.

Nepali Squad

Sandeep Lamichhane, Rohit Paudel, Aasif Sheik, Aarif Sheik, Dipendra Singh Airee, Dev Khanal, Aadil Alam, Karan KC, Gyanendra Malla, Sompal Kami, Basir Ahamad, Arjun Saud, Pawan Sarraf, Shahab Alam, Kishor Mahato, Bibek Yadav.