Head coach Stuart Law, ODI skipper Sandeep Lamichhane and Cricket Association of Nepal officials made a common statement on Friday: “The changes in team roster and captaincy are for the betterment of Nepali cricket.”

Ever since the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced that Lamichhane was replacing Rohit Kumar Paudel as the skipper for the 50-over format, there were many questions for the governing body. And the leadership had to answer them in a hurried farewell ceremony for the senior men’s team on Friday afternoon.

CAN originally intended to host the ceremony after the squad returned from the upcoming 10-day training camp in Bengaluru, India. However, the governing body issued a rushed media call less than three hours before the event.

Nepal men’s cricket team has a busy schedule ahead—ACC Men’s Premier Cup in Malaysia from August 30 to September 12, Asian Games in Japan from September 17 to October 3, and ICC CWC League-2 tri-series in Oman from October 9 to 19.

Addressing the media ahead of the team’s departure on Friday evening, head coach Law embraced the administrative shift, framing it as an opportunity for progress.

“I haven’t slept for around 20 hours, so bear with me,” started Law, who had just arrived from the UK after attending a memorial reception. “With change comes a new era, and I am excited for the future. Let’s start this new era with a bang with new players and a new skipper.”

The immediate focus of the squad is the 10-day training camp at the Bengaluru-based National Cricket Academy, which Law views as critical for ironing out flaws exposed during Nepal’s recent tour of the Netherlands.

While pitch conditions in Malaysia remain somewhat unpredictable, the Australian coach expects standard Subcontinent-style surfaces.

“Conditions are a bit unknown, but they should be low and slow and favour spin,” Law said. “With a combination of new and experienced players, I am confident we can put a powerful team on the park.”

Law also clarified that a separate squad would be assembled for the T20 format at the upcoming Asian Games, allowing players to specialise as the calendar grows increasingly demanding.

Law shared a playful piece of advice for his newly reinstated captain, who mostly has had bad luck at the coin toss.

“I just want to tell Sandeep to train for the toss,” Law joked.

Providing clarity on the rushed schedule, CAN Secretary Paras Khadka explained that logistical changes forced the governing body’s hand.

“Originally, the plan was to bring the team back to Kathmandu after the Bengaluru camp before departing for the ACC Premier Cup,” Khadka said. “However, a last-minute readjustment means the squad will fly directly to Malaysia from India, which led to this sudden farewell.”

After training in India, the Nepal team is expected to arrive in Malaysia early and have some extra training sessions before the main event.

Addressing the elephant in the room—the sudden change in the ODI leadership—Khadka defended the board’s decision, insisting that strategic structural needs dictated the move rather than personal preference.

“We know there are many questions surrounding the squad and the captaincy, and we want to clear them up,” Khadka said. “Looking at our ODI structure, CAN felt a change was necessary. Cricket is a team sport where every player holds equal importance, and this decision was made strictly for the betterment of Nepali cricket. At the end of the day, Nepal must win.”

Khadka pushed back against speculation that the leadership strip was aimed at sidelining former captain Rohit Paudel. Khadka stressed that CAN’s focus remains on long-term national development.

“We are not trying to end any player’s career,” Khadka asserted. “We are making decisions based on multiple factors, all aimed at turning Nepal into a top-tier cricket nation. Players are the bridge between management and development.”

Offering a realistic assessment of the team’s standing in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, the former national captain urged fans and critics to recognise the rising standards of international competition.

“We managed to beat top-placed League-2 teams at home, but we struggled while travelling on foreign soil,” Khadka acknowledged. “The level of competition today is tough. Maintaining ODI status is crucial, but we have to look beyond just surviving in the 50-over format.”

Despite the recent turbulence, Khadka expressed firm belief in the selected squad’s ability to secure back-to-back Asia Cup qualifications and appealed to supporters for patience during this transition.

“We picked this squad with Asia Cup qualification firmly in mind, and we believe they will deliver results,” Khadka said. “Nepali cricket has never gotten anything the easy way. We are confident this team will win the Premier Cup in Malaysia, but we ask the fans to remain patient. If Nepal doesn’t win, nothing else matters.”

Similarly, Lamichhane acknowledged the team’s recent slump, echoing sentiments shared by coach Law and CAN Secretary Paras Khadka, but insisted the squad is focused on making amends.

“As the coach and Paras dai mentioned, our recent matches didn’t go our way,” Lamichhane said. “Sometimes opponents simply play better than us despite our best efforts. But we won’t let that happen again, and we will come back with better execution.”

Addressing the heavy media scrutiny surrounding leadership changes and performance slumps, the leg-spinner called for a forward-looking mindset, stressing that the team intends to answer its critics on the pitch.

“We have a fantastic squad with a strong blend of senior and young players, and there are exciting times ahead,” Lamichhane added. “Leaving the past behind, we must take criticism constructively and respond on the field by giving our absolute best—in Bengaluru, Malaysia, and wherever we play in the future.”

Closing his address, Lamichhane called on Nepali cricket supporters to stay behind the team during this transitional period.

“Every single cheer and word of motivation will boost us and elevate our game,” he said.

While CAN officials downplayed the absences—insisting there were no underlying issues behind their non-attendance—informal reports indicated logistical and personal delays. Airee was reportedly outside the Kathmandu valley celebrating his birthday with family and close associates a day prior.

CAN clarified that the absent players would link up with the rest of the squad directly in Bengaluru for the 10-day preparation camp ahead of the Malaysia tour.