Nepal national cricket captain Rohit Paudel on Tuesday said his team would give their best to utilise the opportunity when they play against cricket superpowers Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup.

Nepal will be playing against co-host Pakistan in the tournament opener at Multan on August 30 before competing against India on September 4 at Pallekele, Sri Lanka, in the group stage of Asia Cup. Nepal will be playing against the cricket giants for the first time since they began playing international cricket in 1996.

“We had not thought that we would be playing against India and Pakistan, but we have got an opportunity and we will respect it and try to give our best,” said Paudel during a media interaction before their departure to Pakistan. “The whole world will be watching us and obviously, we will try to give our best.”

Paudel said that all members of the squad were excited to be playing in the tournament and were prepared for the games. Nepal got the opportunity to rub shoulders with the cricketing giants as the champions of the ACC Premier Cup. The Asia Cup features Asia’s five full members of the International Cricket Council.

Nepal are drawn in Group ‘A’ along with India and Pakistan while Group ‘B’ comprises Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The top two teams of each group will progress into Super 4 and the bottom two sides will get eliminated from the group rounds. The teams in the Super 4 will play a round robin league and the top two sides will compete for the title on September 17.

Nepal prepared for two weeks in Sri Lanka after competing in the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup held from July 13 to 23. “Over the past two weeks, we tried to work on improving our weak points. Everyone has improved a lot,” said Paudel.

He also said that the team was expecting a competitive game. “The result is not in our control, but the process is in control and we will make sure to present our best cricket on the given day. Both the sides will start from the same point and whichever team plays better on the particular day, will win.”

Coach Monty Desai, who helped Nepal earn sensational 11 wins out of their last 12 games in the ICC World Cup League 2 and retain the One-Day International status, said he is expecting the same attitude from the players that they exhibited in League 2.

“My expectation from the team is to show the same attitude again and again. Let us rewind to the situation before those 12 games [last 12 games of League 2],” said the Indian national. “In every game, the new faces stepped up. My expectation is to see those new faces stepping up again and again.”

He also said the playing opportunities against full members (Test playing sides) was like walking into the unknown. Sharing his feelings about leading the Nepali team against his own country, Desai said: “If there is a national anthem in the tournament you can expect me to sing both national anthems. As far as the game is concerned, I am totally invested in these boys. I see these boys as innocent youngsters who have dreams and they are chasing their dream. They might be playing against players who they have been worshipping over the years and watching them on television. They might have a chance to rub shoulders with them.”

Desai also urged Nepali fans to support their team the way they have been supporting them at the TU ground. “Have patience and trust in the team. They are trying to build something together,” he said. “Enjoy those one ball battles which we will win, we will win some phases, enjoy that part and if the process is in place who knows?”

Lamichhane not travelling with the team

Nepal’s leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane did not travel with the team that left for Pakistan on Tuesday for the Asia Cup.

Though team manager Pradeep Majgaiyan said Lamichhane was ‘not feeling well’, the leg spinner was found to be in good and fit condition. Majgaiyan, however, did not clarify what he was suffering from.

Lamichhane, accused of raping a minor and freed on bail, has his trial going on at the Kathamandu District Court and the case's hearing has been postponed on multiple occasions.

Captain Paudel said that Lamichhane’s absence will have a big impact on the team and it will be challenging to have a replacement for him.