The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced the squad that will be travelling to Australia for the fourth edition of the Top End T20 Series.

It is the first time that Nepal is participating in the annual cricket tournament organised by Australia’s Northern Territory.

The 16-member squad is being led by skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel, with the world’s second-best T20I all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee as the vice-captain.

Other members in the squad are Aasif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Aarif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Rupesh Singh, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Karan KC, Rijan Dhakal, Lokesh Bam and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi.

The event is taking place in Darwin from August 14 to 24 with 11 teams. Nepal will be the only team to send the senior side, while Pakistan and Bangladesh are sending their ‘A’ teams.

Chicago Kingsmen, champions of the 2024 Minor League Cricket in the USA, are the other foreign team. NT Strike will represent the hosts.

The other six teams— Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades and ACT Comets—are the Academy Squads of the franchises competing in the Big Bash League.

Each team will be playing six games in the league stage. Nepal’s first game will be against the hosts, NT Strike, at DXC Arena on August 15. The Rhinos will then face Bangladesh, Melbourne Stars, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades and Pakistan on August 16, 18, 19, 20 and 22, respectively.