Sandeep Lamichhane named Nepal's ODI team captain ahead of ACC Men's Premier Cup
Kathmandu, August 10
Sandeep Lamichhane has been handed the captaincy of Nepal's ODI side for the upcoming ACC Men's Premier Cup, as per the ICC website.
The 26-year-old experienced leg-spinner, who has claimed 154 wickets in 77 ODIs, will take over the leadership role from Rohit Paudel.
Lamichhane previously captained Nepal in 14 ODIs before Paudel took over the leadership in 2022. Under Paudel's captaincy, Nepal enjoyed a highly successful run, winning 11 of their 12 ODI matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2. The impressive campaign helped them secure a place in the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June 2023, with Paudel also proving to be a dependable anchor in the batting order.
Lamichhane also brings an impressive record to the leadership role, having become the fastest Nepalese bowler to reach 150 ODI wickets. He is also the first player from Nepal to claim 100 T20I wickets.
The ACC Men's Premier Cup will be held in Malaysia from August 30 to September 12. The tournament will feature the top eight teams from the 2024 ACC Men's Premier Cup, along with the two finalists from the 2026 ACC Men's Challenger Cup.
Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates qualified by finishing among the top eight in the 2024 edition, while Malaysia and Singapore earned their spots after reaching the final of the 2026 ACC Men's Challenger Cup.
Nepal's squad for 2026 ACC Men's Premier Cup:
Sandeep Lamichhane (c), Aasif Sheikh, Arjun Kumal, Rohit Paudel, Dev Khanal, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sundeep Jora, Basir Ahamad, Ishan Pandey, Gulsan Jha, Sher Malla, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Hemant Dhami.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a cricket fan from India, I've been following Nepal's rise closely. They're becoming a serious force in Associate cricket. Lamichhane's experience in T20 leagues worldwide will be invaluable in a tournament like this. That said, I hope they don't undermine Paudel's contributions – the guy was the anchor with the bat. Hope both of them can work together smoothly. The ACC Premier Cup is going to be exciting!
Honestly, this feels like a step backward. Paudel had a winning formula – 11 wins out of 12 ODIs! Why fix what isn't broken? Lamichhane is a great bowler, but captaincy is a different ball game. Remember, he captained before and the team gave him up in 2022. I just hope this doesn't unsettle the dressing room before such an important tournament. 🙏
Huge news for Nepal cricket! Lamichhane bringing that star power and experience back to the helm. The guy has played in the Big Bash, CPL, IPL, and everywhere – he knows how to handle pressure. With Dipendra Singh Airee and Karan KC in the squad, this team looks solid. Can't wait to see them take on UAE and Oman in Malaysia. All the best to the Gorkhas! 🏏
I'm a bit surprised they removed Paudel. He was doing so well and looked like a calm, composed leader. But the selectors must have their reasons. Maybe they want Lamichhane's aggressive, attacking mindset in the captaincy role? Either way, it's a bold decision. Hoping this doesn't cause any dressing-room friction – that's always a risk with a captaincy change mid-cycle. Let's see if it pays off!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.