The 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, remain a heart-breaking memory for Nepali cricket. Twelve years ago, the national team stood on the brink of history, presented with a glorious opportunity to secure the country’s first-ever medal in a team event on the continental stage.

After advancing from the group stage, Nepal faced Afghanistan in the quarterfinals. A victory would have set up a semifinal clash against Hong Kong—an opponent well within Nepal’s reach—with the then head coach Pubudu Dassanayake confidently targeting a place in the final.

Nepal executed their plan brilliantly in the first half, restricting Afghanistan—the team Nepal had defeated in the 2014 T20 World Cup in March—to a modest 119/9. But their batting faltered when it mattered most. Nepal managed only 111/7 in reply, falling agonisingly short by eight runs.

Now, Nepal have the chance for redemption as they take on Afghanistan at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

Fast bowler Sompal Kami is the lone player from that 2014 squad. Making his return to the national side in Nagoya after missing the ACC Premier Cup, Kami is among a wave of players making their comeback, including Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh and Nandan Yadav.

Except for Malla, the rest had been sidelined following a disappointing ICC CWC League-2 campaign in the Netherlands in July. In their absence, a revised Nepali side won the ACC Premier Cup in Malaysia to qualify for the 2027 Asia Cup, where they will feature alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

In Nagoya, Nepal are placed in a three-team group alongside Afghanistan and hosts Japan. A top-two finish in the group will propel Nepal into the quarterfinals, where Asian powerhouses India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh—all granted direct entry into the last eight—await.

Friday’s fixture will be Nepal’s opening match of the tournament. Afghanistan, meanwhile, kicked off their campaign on Thursday with an 81-run victory over Japan. Batting first, Afghanistan posted 129/6 before getting the hosts all out for 81 in 19.3 overs.

The pitch at Korogi Sports Park, which saw high-scoring games during the women’s competition, produced a run drought on the opening day of the men’s event on Thursday.

The Afghani side in Nagoya is not at full strength, lacking major stars including captain Rashid Khan. As a result, they struggled to show their typical aggressive batting. In another match at the venue, Hong Kong were restricted to 81/9 in 20 overs before Malaysia comfortably chased the target down in just 12 overs. Oman are the other team in the group of Hong Kong and Malaysia.

After cricket was omitted from the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, Nepal made global headlines at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games by shattering a flurry of world records against Mongolia before being halted by India in the quarterfinals.

Now, a fresh opportunity presents itself—beginning with a familiar foe.