The Cricket Association of Nepal bade farewell to the Nepali men’s national cricket team heading to the United Kingdom at a function at Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

The squad will tour through England and Wales before reaching Scotland for their major tournament—the CWC League 2 tri-series comprising the Netherlands in June.

New head coach Stuart Law and his skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel were missing in the farewell function. They were replaced by assistant coach Gyanendra Malla and vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee.

“We have a new head coach who has had experience of the conditions in the UK,” Malla said. “It will be extremely beneficial for us throughout the tour.”

They will play a one-day match with Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales, on May 16, and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in Herefordshire, England, on May 19.

They will then reach Gloucestershire for two T20s with the local county club from May 22, before returning to Wales for a 50-over game with the county cricket club of Glamorgan on May 26.

It is only after the one-day game in Glamorgan that Law will take his ‘Best 15’ to Scotland. However, before facing the main Scottish and Dutch teams in League 2, Nepal will play two practice one-day matches with Scotland ‘A’, on May 29 and 31.

The League 2 tri-series will kick off on June 2 and run through June 12.

“We know it will not be easy,” Airee said. “But we will give our 100 percent wherever we go.”

Malla also argued that the team would try to accumulate as many points as possible from the four games in the League 2 tri-series.

The Rhinos will return home after a friendly T20I tri-series between the same trio scheduled just after League 2.

Sandeep says no to central contract

Meanwhile, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nepal’s leading wicket-taker in one-day and T20 internationals, decided to be out from CAN’s central contract for 2025.

Lamichhane, who was contracted under Grade A, the highest-tier, said that he did not want to continue under the contract through a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“After much thought, I’ve decided not to continue under the central contract of the Cricket Association of Nepal for this time,” he wrote. “This isn’t a step away from cricket or my nation—it’s a step toward evolving personally and professionally.”

Lamichhane, however, didn’t elaborate how staying out of the central contract would help him “evolve”.

He thanked CAN for its continuous support in shaping Nepali cricket, and helping his growth, and clarified that the decision was not made to leave the national team.

“To be clear—I will continue playing for Nepal with the same passion and dedication as always,” he wrote. “That pride and responsibility will forever remain close to my heart.”

He added, “Sometimes, choices are made not out of separation, but from a place of purpose and growth. Life is a journey full of evolving paths and responsibilities. There’s still so much to explore, so much to give, and so much to become. I’m excited for the road ahead—with cricket, and beyond.”

He is in the squad for the UK tour and League 2 tri-series.

Tussle between prezs

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Sanjay Gurung, president of Lumbini Province Cricket Association, called a press conference at the hall of Nepal Sports Journalists Forum in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu, and accused CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand of “playing dirty politics” to have him removed from his post.

Gurung said he was surprised to receive the letter of termination from his post directly. “It should have come from the secretariat, but the letter was signed by Chand and he sent it directly,” Gurung said.

“Chand misled provincial officials to register a motion of no confidence against me at CAN, without any internal discussion in Lumbini. The step has defamed me.”

Chand has rubbished the accusations as baseless, according to media reports.

“The step was a result of the complaints by other provincial officials,” Hamro Khelkud, an online sports media, quoted Chand as saying. “Gurung has been accused of financial irregularities.”