Citing Nepal’s involvement in ‘tight finishes’ at the qualifying event, the cricket governing body says the Rhinos are looking to ‘make it out of the group stage for the first time’.

Barma sustained a Grade II Hamstring Strain and will be on rest for eight to 12 weeks, says CAN.

It is the first time that Nepal will host the conference.

The Rhinos are currently training in Mumbai, the city where Nepal will play all of their group stage matches of the World Cup.

CAN plans to revamp women’s cricket by increasing investment and implementing a long-term plan under the tutelage of incumbent coach Harshal Jayant Pathak.

Nepal were knocked out after a 72-run loss to Scotland in their final Group B match at Kirtipur.

Bangladesh had asked the ICC to move their games to the tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka instead, but the governing body rejected the demand, dismissing any security threat to the team.

In Nepal’s first-ever victory over a Test nation, Magar becomes third Nepali cricketer to cross 1,000 WT20I runs. Mahato is now the first Nepali to have three WT20I fifties.

Puja Mahato became the first Nepali woman cricketer to score three half-centuries, while Sita Rana Magar became the third Nepali woman cricketer to reach 1,000 T20I runs in the win over Zimbabwe.

Two of Nepal’s most experienced players, Sita Rana Magar and Rubina Chhetry, keep the team in the chase until the very end, turning the match into a nail-biter.

Nepal will play the second and third T20s against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at the ground of Colts Cricket Club on January 22 and 24.

Nepal’s second match of the Qualifier is against the Netherlands on Thursday.

The 10 teams in the Qualifier, which begins today, are eying four spots in the T20 World Cup in England and Wales in June this year.

In Colombo, the Rhinos will work on their tuning and gameplay alongside selecting roles, coach Law says. They will then head to Mumbai for another round of practice sessions.

The IPL, the world’s richest T20 league, is scheduled from March 26 to May 31.

The calendar includes schedules for the third NPL and other international events, with the CAN trying to incorporate Test nations.

A left-back who likes technical gameplay, Rana signed an A-contract with Swedish club Malmo FF in November. And he wants to play for Nepal.

Pathak, who has signed a two-year deal, will be working on developing women’s cricket overall in Nepal, from the grassroots to the senior team.

Third consecutive defeat ends Nepal’s campaign.

Nepal, who now have no chance of progressing further, play Afghanistan in their last match of the tournament on Wednesday.