Nepal set for Home of Cricket experience

Nepal, the Netherlands and the MCC are due to take part in a T20 tournament at Lord's this weekend. ALEX MASON previews the event...

NEPAL

Nepal made their debut at Lord’s in 2016 in a match arranged to mark the 200-year relationship with Britain. A crowd of around 5,000 Nepalese supporters attended as their side defeated MCC by 41 runs. 

Paras Khadka - who took over the national captaincy in 2009 - and their IPL star Sandeep Lamicchane – the first player from his country to be snapped up at the IPL auction by Delhi Daredevils - will both be playing.

Speaking about the tournament, Khadka urged all cricket lovers - and especially the British Nepalese diaspora - to come and support the event and the Nepalese team.

“It gives me immense pleasure that Nepal will play at the Home of the Cricket again this year with MCC and the Netherlands,” he said. “Playing at Lord’s is always special and we are really looking forward to it.“

^{Ryan ten Doeschate plays for the Dutch}

NETHERLANDS

Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate is part of the Netherlands squad for the Triangular Tournament with the MCC and Nepal at Lord’s this Sunday.

The 38-year-old has established himself as one of the finest cricketers to play for an Associate nation. Most notable in a long career were two centuries at the 2011 World Cup, including a pugnacious 119 that almost embarrassed England.

His combination of tremendous hitting and skiddy medium pace have earned him contracts in the IPL, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Ten Doeschate played five years for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL - the first Associate player to gain such a contract. He also led Essex to the County Championship title. 

^{Jonathan Trott is in the MCC squad}

MCC

Nick Compton has been named in the MCC squad, and will be joined by Mahela Jayawardene, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott.

Compton has played two of his 16 Test matches for England at Lord’s. He scored two centuries during his Test career and amassed more than 12,000 first-class runs, averaging 40.

Sri Lanka legend Jayawardene - with more than 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs - will captain MCC.

Three MCC Young Cricketers have also been included in the squad for the day.

Kashif Ali, 20, is a top-order batsman and leg-spin bowler who has previous experience with Essex and Kent, and is on his first year of the YCs programme. 

Dominic Manthorpe, 21, is a left-arm seamer who is also in his first year as a YC, and right-arm seamer Ben Sears, 20, is a former New Zealand Under-19 International who played in the Under-19 World Cup in 2016 and is in his second year with the YCs.

Tickets are on sale now, priced at £17 for adults, £8.50 for over-65s and £5 for under-16s. They are available via the Lord’s website. 

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