🏟️ Historic Occasion — Nepal’s First Home Floodlit International Series

This UAE tour marks Nepal’s first-ever home international cricket series played under floodlights at Tribhuvan University Ground. The night atmosphere, the crowd’s energy in Kirtipur, and the history of the occasion add a unique dimension to what is already a competitive 2-match series.

📋 1st T20I Recap — UAE Won by 6 Wickets (DLS) on April 20

1st T20I — Nepal innings: 122/8 before rain (Full 20 ov)

Nepal batting122/8Rain stopped play with 7 balls left
Dipendra Singh Airee32*Not out at rain halt
Middle-order collapseDown to 122/87 down inside middle overs
Muhammad Zuhaib (UAE)3 wicketsKey bowling performance
Rain reduces match to10 overs (DLS)UAE target set at 78

UAE chase: 78 target in 10 overs — WON by 6 wkts

Muhammad Waseem (UAE, c)3315 balls — Blazing start! 20 off first over
UAE chase progressWon 8.5 ovChased 78 with balls to spare
Sandeep Lamichhane (NEP)3 wicketsFought back but too late
ResultUAE WONUAE lead series 1-0

The key detail: UAE captain Waseem clattering 20 runs off the very first over of the chase (33 off 15 balls total) meant the revised target of 78 was never in doubt. Even after Lamichhane’s 3 wickets (including Waseem, Adeeb Usmani, and Harpreet Singh all in a spell), UAE were too far ahead to be stopped. Nepal’s middle-order collapse (7 wickets for under 70 runs in the full-innings portion) left them vulnerable to any DLS adjustment.

🇳🇵 Nepal — Home Advantage, Must-Win Mentality

Nepal must win today to level the series and avoid a home series defeat — which would be a significant disappointment for a team that regularly competes at World Cup qualifier level. Dipendra Singh Airee (captain, 32* not out when rain stopped play — he showed good form) leads a squad with genuine T20 quality: Sandeep Lamichhane (one of South Asia’s finest leg-spinners, 3 wickets in M1) and Kushal Bhurtel (aggressive right-hand opener). Their primary bowling weapon — Lamichhane’s leg-spin — found wickets in M1 but needs more batting support from the top order. The Kirtipur pitch (average 1st innings 171) will reward the team that bats longer and builds partnerships. Nepal’s batting needs a sustained opening partnership to post 160+.

🇦🇪 UAE — Series Victory Within Reach

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem set the tone in M1 with his blazing 33 off 15 balls — the kind of innings that demoralises opposition bowlers immediately. Alishan Sharafu (UAE’s most technically correct batter), Karthik Meiyappan (off-spin wicket-taker), and Muhammad Zuhaib (3 wickets in M1) form the core of a well-balanced team. UAE’s bowling attack, led by Zuhaib’s accuracy, showed that Nepal’s middle order is their primary vulnerability. UAE need only a draw from the 2-match series (they already lead 1-0) — but they will play for the win, understanding that a 2-0 series win away in Nepal would be a significant ICC T20I ranking points boost.

🇳🇵 Nepal Squad

  • Dipendra Singh Airee ⭐ (c)
  • Sandeep Lamichhane 🎳 ⭐
  • Kushal Bhurtel
  • Kushal Malla
  • Sundeep Jora
  • Aasif Sheikh
  • Basir Ahmad
  • Gulshan Jha
  • Lokesh Bam
  • Santosh Yadav
  • Arjun Saud
  • Hemant Dhami
  • Nandan Yadav
  • Shahab Alam
  • Sher Malla

🇦🇪 UAE Squad

  • Muhammad Waseem ⭐ (c)
  • Alishan Sharafu
  • Asif Khan
  • Aryansh Sharma
  • Aayan Afzal Khan
  • Basil Hameed
  • Junaid Siddique
  • Zahoor Khan
  • Karthik Meiyappan 🎳
  • Muhammad Jawadullah
  • Muhammad Zuhaib 🎳 (3 wkts M1)
  • Nilansh Keswani
  • Sanchit Sharma
  • Ali Naseer
  • Lovepreet Singh
📊 Head-to-Head — Nepal vs UAE T20Is

Nepal lead the overall head-to-head 6-4 in T20Is. Their most recent meeting before this series (October 2025) was a 1-run Nepal win — the narrowest possible margin. UAE won in the 2023 series (final of a tri-series and a semi-final). The rivalry is closely contested, making the 2nd T20I a genuine 50-50 battle on paper.

🔑 Key Battle
Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal) vs Muhammad Waseem (UAE, c)
Nepal’s best T20 bowler vs UAE’s captain and primary batting threat. Waseem scored 33 off 15 in M1 before Lamichhane got his wicket. In M2, Waseem will arrive prepared — he knows Lamichhane’s wrist-spin, wrong’un, and variations. Lamichhane must bowl in a different phase, use more variation, and avoid the short, tossed-up deliveries that Waseem attacked in M1. This is the series-defining individual bowling battle.
Muhammad Zuhaib (UAE) vs Nepal’s Opening Partnership
Zuhaib’s 3-wicket haul in M1 exposed Nepal’s batting fragility. In M2, Nepal must show they’ve addressed the technical vulnerabilities he targeted. Kushal Bhurtel and whoever opens with him need to score 40+ in the powerplay to set a platform. If Zuhaib takes 2 early wickets again, Nepal fall into the same collapse trap — 7 wickets falling through the middle overs — that cost them the series opener.
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, Nepal: Average 1st innings T20I score: 171 — one of the highest venues for batting in Associate cricket, reflecting flat pitches with good carrying conditions. Batting first wins 55% here (31 matches data). The altitude at Kirtipur (1,370m above sea level) means the ball travels further and spinners get more purchase. Weather: 22°C, partly cloudy, 55% humidity, 55% chance of some precipitation. Rain was the deciding factor in M1 — teams must be aware of DLS again. Floodlit night match — dew from over 12 aids chasing teams marginally.
⚡ Match Prediction
Nepal Win and Level Series — 58%
Nepal are too strong a home side to lose a 2-match series 2-0 at Kirtipur. Their H2H (6-4 in favour) and home ground familiarity with altitude conditions gives them the edge in a full, uninterrupted 20-over match. The key: Nepal need their top order to build a 160+ total WITHOUT a middle-order collapse. If Airee and Bhurtel give Nepal a 50+ opening stand, and Lamichhane takes 3 wickets in overs 8-16, Nepal win by 20+ runs. UAE’s 42% chance relies on Waseem scoring another quickfire 30+ and Zuhaib repeating his 3-wicket M1 performance.
🌟 Fantasy Picks — Nepal vs UAE
C
Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal) — 3 wickets in M1, the tournament’s most recognised leg-spinner. At Kirtipur’s altitude (ball turns more, grip available), his ceiling for a 4-wicket haul in the series decider is the match’s highest bowling points ceiling. Nepal’s best individual player.
VC
Muhammad Waseem (UAE, c) — 33 off 15 in M1, UAE captain setting the tone immediately. In the series decider with everything at stake, Waseem’s aggressive opening batting (clattering 20 runs off the first over in M1!) makes him the most dangerous individual in this match. UAE captain bonus adds value.
DIFF
Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal, c) — Captain, showed form in M1 (32* when rain came). In the series decider at home, his ceiling for a captain’s innings (45-ball 60+) is the best batting potential from Nepal’s lineup. Most users pick Kushal Bhurtel (Nepal opener) — Airee at lower ownership is the smart differential.
📺 Broadcast

📺 Kantipur TV Max (Nepal, live TV broadcast)

📱 MSM Video App (Live streaming — international)

🕒 Match: 4:45 PM IST | 11:15 AM GMT | 5:00 PM LOCAL (Kirtipur)

📍 Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. Day-night fixture. Rain likely — DLS may be a factor again.