Nepal are set to play Scotland in Dundee on June 2 to open the 13th tri-series of the CWC League 2 in what will be the new head coach Stuart Law’s first international match with the Rhinos.

The Cricket Association of Nepal announced Law as the head coach on March 28, stating that his official role would begin from April. Staying in touch digitally for a few weeks, Law arrived in Kathmandu on April 25 and took charge from the morning of April 26.

He got the opportunity to analyse the best cricketers in the country during the ‘Core Camp’ wherein 52 players were divided into four teams of 13 each to play one-day practice matches in a double round-robin format.

After CAN brought the number of players in the core camp down to 25 on May 3, there were six players who were not among the 33 players under the central contract of CAN for 2025.

On the other hand, Kushal Malla, one of Nepal’s finest batters, failed to make it to the second phase. Malla, who was once the youngest in senior men’s ODIs to hit a half-century and the youngest Nepali to hit an ODI century, could not perform well in the beginning of the core camp. He bounced back with a 94 off 122 deliveries in the final game of the core camp but by then, the 25-player list was already out.

On May 10, Law finalised the list of 15 players accompanying him to Scotland for the CWC League 2 tri-series. It would be Nepal’s fourth tri-series in the League 2 cycle where there are 24 tri-series between eight teams in three years (2024 to 2026); one team participates in nine tri-series each.

Nepal are at the bottom of the table in League 2 since May 8 after the UAE earned two crucial points with a win over Scotland. It was UAE’s first win after four consecutive losses in the league, their third win in 14 games overall.

Scotland and the UAE are currently competing in the 12th tri-series that started on May 4 in the Netherlands. The Dutch side is in second position with 10 wins in 17 games and the Scottish team is fifth with seven wins in 13 games.

Therefore, Law will not have an easy time helping Nepal climb up the table and progress further to secure a spot in the first ODI World Cup in 2027 in Africa. Nepal currently have six points from two wins and eight losses in 12 games; two of them ended without a result.

“The camp will allow me to know my players better. Their previous history will also matter, but this camp is important,” Law said during his reveal on April 26. “There might not be massive but subtle changes to Nepal’s squad.”

Law’s 15

Rohit Kumar Paudel will lead the Nepali side, and Dipendra Singh Airee will be the vice-captain. Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Anil Kumar Sah, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Aarif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Rijan Dhakal and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi are also in the squad.

Bhim Sharki, who welcomed the new head coach with a century in the first game of the core camp, might be playing his 29th ODI for Nepal in the League 2 tri-series. His last ODI for Nepal was during the CWC League 2 tri-series against Canada on September 22, 2024.

Similarly, all-rounder Basir Ahamad is returning in ODIs for Nepal after around three years. Ahamad has only played three ODIs for Nepal, all during the inaugural CWC League 2 (2019-2023) in Scotland in July 2022. He scored three runs in two innings and bagged two wickets in three innings during the tri-series.

However, Ahamad has showcased his abilities in the domestic tournaments. His performance during the core camp then earned him a spot in Law’s first national squad.

Moreover, Nandan Yadav is the only player among the 15 who has not yet donned the national jersey. Yadav bagged seven wickets in three innings during the core camp and will be looking to play his first international game in Scotland.

Kiran Thagunna, Lokesh Bam and Rupesh Kumar Singh will join Law and team for the T20I tri-series between Nepal, Scotland and the Netherlands after League 2.

Touring the UK

Nepali fans will not have to wait until June to witness Law's boys in action. The 15-member squad is travelling to Wales and England before reaching Scotland.

The team will play a one-day game with Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales, on May 16, before facing the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in Herefordshire, England, on May 19.

Law and his boys will then reach Gloucestershire for two T20s with the local county club from May 22. They will then return to Wales for a 50-over game with the county cricket club of Glamorgan on May 26.

It is only after three one-day and two T20 games that Law will reach Scotland. And before facing the main Scottish team, Nepal will play two practice one-day matches with Scotland ‘A’, on May 29 and 31.

In a recent video, Law shared that his team would get used to the conditions in Scotland during the preparations in the UK.