Nepal may be seventh on the League 2 table, but captain Rohit Paudel is refusing to let the numbers define his side’s campaign as they chase a place in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier for the 50-over World Cup.
With only seven wins so far in the current cycle, Nepal are not where they want to be. Still, Paudel says the dressing room remains confident that a result against Oman on Tuesday could turn the mood and sharpen the team’s push for a finish inside the top four.
For Nepal, the stakes are straightforward. Only the leading sides at the end of the cycle will secure a direct route into the next stage of qualification, and every remaining match now carries added weight. That means there is little room for error, especially for a side that has spent much of the competition trying to make up ground.
Paudel’s message, though, is less about fear and more about familiarity. He believes the squad has already been through high-pressure situations before and can use that experience to steady the nerves in the weeks ahead.
“It is our nature to play under pressure. Therefore, we are hopeful that we will secure a win,” Paudel said, striking an upbeat tone ahead of the Oman clash.
That kind of confidence will be important if Nepal are to keep their qualification hopes alive. In a tightly contested race, momentum often matters as much as points, and one strong performance can quickly shift the atmosphere around a squad.
Paudel also pointed to the continuity in the team as a reason for belief. The captain noted that several players from Nepal’s successful previous cycle are still part of the setup, giving the side a sense of continuity and an understanding of what is required when the pressure rises.
“The same players who played a role in winning 11 matches in the previous cycle are still in the team today,” he said. “We have already endured that level of pressure. Therefore, the upcoming matches will be even more important.”
That reference to the previous cycle is significant. It reminds supporters that Nepal are not starting from scratch, even if the table suggests they have work to do. The current group has shown before that it can handle the intensity of a qualification battle, and Paudel clearly believes that experience can still count for something.
The challenge now is translating those words into results. Nepal’s position in the standings means they are relying not just on their own performances, but also on favourable outcomes elsewhere. Yet the captain’s comments suggest the team is focused on what it can control: intensity, discipline and belief.
For a side looking to climb into the upper half of the League 2 table, Tuesday’s meeting with Oman is more than just another fixture. It is an opportunity to reset the campaign, restore confidence and prove that the race is far from over.
As we reported earlier, qualifying pathways in cricket often come down to small margins, and Nepal’s situation is no different. A win here would not solve everything, but it would give the team something far more valuable at this stage: momentum.
That is why Paudel’s emphasis on pressure should be read as a sign of intent rather than resignation. Nepal know the route ahead is difficult, but they also know that one good result can change how a campaign feels. If they can rise to the moment against Oman, the conversation around their Cricket World Cup Qualifier hopes may look very different by the end of the week.
For now, though, Nepal remain in chase mode, with the captain asking his side to lean on experience, stay composed and trust the work they have already done. In a qualification race where every point matters, that mindset could prove just as important as the result itself.