Cricket Association of Nepal Announces Squad for U19 Asia Cup 2024, Names Shakti Gauchan as Head Coach
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming U-19 Asia Cup, set to be led by captain Hemant Dhami, with Shakti Gauchan appointed as head coach.
Expressing his feelings about the role, Gauchan said, “I am honored and excited to receive this responsibility. This isn’t just a moment of happiness; I feel the weight of the task ahead. My focus will be on fulfilling the trust that CAN has placed in me.”
Gauchan recently coached Lumbini Province to second place in the U-19 National Cricket Championship. After retiring from professional cricket in 2018, he established a cricket academy in Rupandehi, nurturing local talent. A former U-19 national team captain himself, Gauchan now steps into a role previously held by Jagat Tamata, marking his first appointment as head coach for a national team.
Gauchan has previously served as the bowling coach for Pokhara Rhinos in the 2021 Everest Premier League (EPL) and will act as a consultant coach for Lumbini Lions in the upcoming Nepal Premier League (NPL) next month.
The U-19 Asia Cup will take place in the UAE from November 28 to December 7, organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The tournament will feature eight teams, including five test-playing nations from Asia, with Nepal, UAE, and Japan securing their spots by finishing in the top three in last year’s ACC Premier Cup in Malaysia. Nepal emerged as champions in that competition by defeating the UAE in the final.
The teams are divided into two groups. Nepal is in Group B with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, while Group A consists of India, Pakistan, Japan, and the UAE. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the final scheduled for December 7.
Nepal U-19 Squad for U19 Asia Cup 2024:
Hemant Dhami (C), Arjun Kumal (VC), Akash Tripathi, Uttam Thapa, Mayan Yadav, Naren Saud, Yunis Bikram Singh Thakuri, Naren Bhatt, Santosh Yadav, Yuvraj Khatri, Roshan Bik, Bipin Mahato, Rajesh Yadav, Dayanand Mandal, Aparajit Poudel, Abhishek Tiwari, Dilsad Ali, and Ranjit Kumar
