Rohit Paudel to lead as Nepal announce squad for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Nepal have announced a 15-player squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, omitting Kushal Malla, who was a part of the side during the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in October 2025.

Rohit Paudel will lead the charge, and he'll have batting allrounder Dipendra Singh Airee as his deputy for inputs. Paudel finished the second season of the Nepal Premier League as the second-leading run-getter, scoring 276 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 99.63.

Off-break bowler Sher Malla has earned his maiden call-up after an impressive season for Lumbini Lions in the recently concluded Nepal Premier League (NPL). Adjudged the Emerging Player of the Tournament, he finished the 20-over tournament as the third-joint leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps alongside Sandeep Lamichhane and Abinash Bohara at a miserly economy rate of 6.50. 

His exceptional bowling effort helped Lions clinch their maiden title after they had grabbed the wooden spoon in the previous season. 

Lamichhane will lead the spin attack alongside Malla, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Airee, whereas Sompal Kami, Karan KC, and Nandan Yadav will be in charge of the pace battery. Karan bagged 13 wickets in eight games of NPL 2025/26 at an economy rate of 7.42.

The batting department will revolve around Paudel, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Gulshan Jha, and Airee.

Nepal aim for Super Eight berth

Nepal had an impressive run during the previous iteration of the T20 World Cup. They had lost to South Africa in Kingstown by a single run and were beaten by 21 runs by Bangladesh.

They defeated West Indies 2-1 in a three-match T20I series in Septmeber last year - their first win against a full member, with spirited performances from Paudel, Bhurtel, and Aasif.

Therefore, they would like to surpass the group stage and enter the Super Eight to continue their rise in the big league.

Nepal squad for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026:

Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee (vc), Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam.