National cricket team coach Pubudu Dassanayake on Sunday said that Nepali community living in the United States (US) is excited about the national cricket team’s visit for the ICC World Cup League 2 match scheduled from June 6 to 19 in Huston, Texas.

Nepal is set to vie in the triangular series of the League 2 that involves the hosts US, Oman and Nepal. "Many Nepali origin people play cricket tournaments in the US,” said Dassanayake who was appointed the coach of US cricket from 2016-2019.

“I travelled almost the whole country in my tenure as US coach to find the best talents,” said Dassanayake at a programme organised by Cricket Association of Nepal on the occasion of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the US.

Nepal are also scheduled to play a couple of warm up matches against local teams as well as an All Star Team comprising of former Nepali national players Prithu Baskota, Basanta Regmi, former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson and former U-19 World Cup winning India captain Unmukta Chand, among others, all of whom are currently living in the US. “Cricket is also a growing sport in the US and it is a great opportunity for Nepal to play against them,” he said.

Garrett E Wilkerson, public affair chief at the US Embassy in Nepal, meanwhile gave away a cricket bat to captain Sandeep Lamichhane. The bat will be signed by Nepal captain Lamichhane and US captain Saurabh Netravalkar.

Wilkerson said that people to people ties was a good example of vibrant relations between Nepal and the US. The match against Nepal would be a good experience for the US as well, he added.

CAN president Chatur Bahadur Chand that it was the first official visit of any Nepali sports team in the US. “I hope the cricket team can take Nepal-US relations to greater heights,” he said. Captain Lamichhane said that the players have put in great efforts to uplift Nepali cricket.

Nepal is scheduled to play four matches in the US. They will take on Oman in their opening match on June 9 and the US on June 11. They will vie against Oman again on June 14 and the US on June 15.

The League 2 featuring seven teams is the gateway for the 2023 World Cup. Each team will play 36 games at the end of the league cycle. The teams that finish in the top three will secure berths for the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe while the bottom four will compete in the World Cup Qualifiers playoff.

Nepal currently sit sixth in the event that comprises Oman, Scotland, United Arab Emirates, Namibia, USA and Papua New Guinea. Oman lead the standing with 40 points from 32 matches while Nepal are sixth with 12 points from as many matches. The US are fifth with 14 points from 16 matches.