The Rhinos were in the UAE for their fifth of the nine tri-series in the ICC CWC League 2 cycle (2024-26). Before the tri-series, which was the 15th out of the 24 tri-series between eight teams, commenced on October 26, Nepal were at seventh position in the points table with 12 points from 16 matches.

Nepal were playing four matches in the tri-series in Dubai—two against the UAE and two against the USA. However, Stuart Law’s boys could not gain a single point this time, having lost all four.

They had lost the first match, which was against the USA, by 106 runs on October 26. It was followed by a five-wicket defeat against the hosts on October 30.

The USA handed Nepal another defeat, this time by four wickets, on November 1. The Rhinos were facing the UAE on Wednesday in the last match of the tri-series. But it too did not end in their favour as they went down by four wickets.

UAE’s comeback from 68/3

Thanks to a decent inning from Aasif Sheikh (34 off 48), Bhim Sharki (48 off 68), Aarif Sheikh (30 off 54), Dipendra Singh Airee (37 off 43) and Kushal Malla (45 off 51), Nepal, having lost the toss, could reach 239/9 in the first inning.

Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Jawadullah and Junaid Siddique bagged two wickets each for the UAE, while Zahid Ali picked one. Aasif and Airee were run out.

Posting a defendable total against the UAE, who were all out at 49 against the USA in their 243-run defeat on Monday, Nepal started well with the ball.

Karan KC gave Nepal the first relief in the very first over as Aryansh Sharma was caught behind by wicketkeeper Aasif for a golden duck. Nandan Yadav took the second wicket for the team in the seventh over of the game as UAE skipper Alishan Sharafu (18 off 24) was caught out by Nepal skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel.

Spinner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi struck Sohaib Khan (29 off 52) leg before at 20.2 overs, and the UAE were at 68/3. While everything seemed to be going well for the visitors, Muhammad Shahdad shattered their hopes.

Shahdad and Muhammad Waseem completed their 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket in 108 deliveries. By the time Waseem, after contributing 76 off 73 with four fours and three sixes, departed in 43.4 overs, the hosts were at 215/4. Waseem was bowled out by Sandeep Lamichhane.

Playing in what was his only third ODI for the UAE, Shahdad was four runs short of his maiden ton when he was caught behind at the last ball of the 47th over by KC. In a bouncer by KC, Shahdad tried flicking the slower ball above Aasif, but it was not powerful enough, and he got caught out at 96 off 123 (6 fours, 3 sixes).

With the helmet on, Shahdad had his hand on his head as he was dissatisfied with his shot choice. Meanwhile, Nepali players could not celebrate the wicket because Shahdad had already inflicted the damage; the UAE then required only seven more runs from 18 deliveries with five wickets in hand.

Harshit Kaushik (13 off 17) was also caught out behind by Aasif, again in the delivery of KC, at 48.5 overs. But with only two more runs remaining for the win, it was too late. Zahid Ali hit the first ball of the last over for a four and walked away with a victory.

First tri-series without a point

Nepal, who qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup last month, have not had a good time in League 2, the pathway to retain the ODI status and get closer to the 2027 ODI World Cup.

In the last four League 2 tri-series before reaching the UAE for the fifth, Nepal had at least managed a point, though it was due to the matches ending without a result thanks to rain.

In the first tri-series for the Rhinos, which was also League 2’s first tri-series of the cycle, in February last year, they could only manage one win at home while hosting Namibia and the Netherlands.

Travelling alongside Oman to Canada for their second tri-series in September last year, Nepal lost the first three matches, before their last game, against Oman on September 24, was called off due to rain without a ball being bowled. The cancellation led Nepal and Oman to share a point each.

In October 2024, when the Rhinos, with the Scots, reached Dallas, USA, for their third tri-series in League 2, Nepal lost both matches with the hosts, but managed a win against Scotland. The second match with the Scots was called off due to rain.

With Australia’s Stuart Law joining Nepal as the head coach in April this year, Nepal had a good campaign in the Scottish conditions in Dundee. In the tri-series comprising the Dutch, Nepal managed three wins in four matches—two against the Netherlands and one against the hosts.

But five months later, Law’s boys could not gain a single point in the tri-series in the UAE.

The Rhinos will now return home and join their respective franchises for the second season of the Nepal Premier League, which kicks off on November 17.

Nepal will now host Oman and the UAE in their next League 2 tri-series in March next year.