SATV Kathmandu Oct 26: Nepal and the USA faced each other last time in the double round-robin tri-series under the ICC CWC League 2 (2024-27) cycle on October 27 and November 2 last year. Now, a year later, the two teams are set to meet again in the same tournament where eight teams are hosting three tri-series and playing in six tri-series away from home across four years.

It was the Rhinos’ third tri-series when they, alongside Scotland, travelled to Dallas, USA, last year. Now Nepal and the USA are in the UAE, who are hosting the 15th out of 24 tri-series in the league from October 26 to November 5 at two venues—Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) and ICC Academy in Dubai.

Nepal are facing the USA on October 26 at DICS and on November 1 at ICC Academy. Similarly, the UAE will host Nepal on October 30 at ICC Academy and on November 3 at DICS.

Two losses last time

Nepal are struggling in the League 2, the pathway to the ODI World Cup. Of the 16 games in the last four tri-series, Nepal have won only five, losing nine matches and two of them ending without a result. Thus, with 12 points, Nepal are seventh in the points table among eight teams.

Further, two of the nine losses in the league were handed to the Rhinos by the USA in Dallas last year. Then, Nepal lost by three wickets and 37 runs in the two fixtures on October 27 and November 1, respectively.

Nepal were accompanied by Scotland in Dallas last year. The Rhinos had registered one win against the Scots, by five wickets, on October 29, while the second fixture on November 4 was called off due to wet ground after Nepal batted for six overs in the first inning, leading both teams to share a point each.

Struggling cricket of the USA

Compared to the US team that faced Nepal in Dallas last year, there are not many changes made in their 15-member squad by both sides. The USA team had an upper hand in the tri-series last time, defeating Nepal in both matches.

However, this time, despite an almost similar squad, the USA cricket is struggling. But it is not due to the on-field scenario, but rather due to off-field activities.

Last month, on September 23, the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed that it suspended the membership of USA Cricket, the governing body of cricket in the United States of America.

As per the ICC, the suspension was due to “USA Cricket's repeated and continued breaches of its obligations as an ICC member under the ICC's Constitution”.

“...management and administration of USA national teams will temporarily be overseen by the ICC and/or its designated representatives to ensure continued support for the players,” the ICC stated.

Further, Nepal are expected to be the favourites against the USA because their former head coach, Stuart Law, is with the Rhinos. Similarly, Law has already helped Nepal qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup. With an unbeaten run in the Asia & EAP Qualifier, Law and his boys will enter DICS on Sunday on a high, aiming to earn the two points and improve their position on the points table.

The matches of Nepal in Dubai begin at 11:15 am Nepali time.