Kathmandu, Apr. 10:“You might get a surprise…because what we are doing in the background is we are constantly building relationships with each and every nation that we can connect to, and you might get a surprise very soon. We might have one more fixture coming in (before the T20 World Cup), you never know. So, let’s keep our hopes positive,” said Monty Desai while speaking to the journalists after clean sweeping a two-match T20 series against Ireland Wolves on March 25.

Many speculations started after Desai made those remarks. Meanwhile, on Monday night, Nepali cricket fans found out about the surprise: West Indies ‘A’ is travelling to Nepal for a five-T20 series with Nepal’s senior squad from April 27 to May 4 at TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

And since then, the surprise has sparked nationwide euphoria for an epic T20 encounter against one of the powerhouses of international cricket.

At 8:28 pm, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) revealed the T20 series against the second-tier team of two-time (2012 and 2016) T20 World Cup Champions West Indies. Twelve minutes later, Cricket West Indies also confirmed the tour to Nepal through its Facebook page. 

While the post by the CAN has garnered admiration in the comment section, the post by Windies Cricket has been flooded with thousands of Nepali netizens expressing gratitude and welcoming the team to visit Nepal soon.

According to the CAN and Windies Cricket, the tour, for both teams, is a part of the preparations for the T20 World Cup in June. It is the first time that a West Indies cricket team is touring Nepal. 

The series’ information came a day later after the CAN announced the appointment of Roderick O. Estwick, a West Indian, as the bowling consultant for the Nepal men’s senior team.

Meanwhile, Nepal has faced the West Indies once in international cricket. It was a 50-over match during the ICC CWC Qualifiers in 2023 at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe. Nepal was defeated by 101 runs then.

“This A-team tour is another indication of the importance we are placing on A-team cricket and a significant phase in our preparations for the T20 World Cup…A hallmark of the 2016 World Cup campaign was the ability of reserve players to come in and have an immediate impact so we must be ready for all eventualities,” Cricket West Indies (CWI) quoted Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket.

“We also relish the opportunity to take the West Indies brand to Nepal for the first time, as cricket continues to grow in popularity there,” Miles added.

Nepal has also prioritised developing more cricketers and intensifying the bench strength by investing in the A team. 

Nepal’s second-tier team has played against Canada’s senior squad and Ireland’s A team since its formation in February 2024.

As quoted by the CWI, Paras Khadka, secretary at the CAN, has stated that the tour of West Indies A to Nepal marks a significant moment in Nepal’s cricketing history.

“(The tour) will help us prepare significantly for the T20 World Cup and beyond,” Khadka stated, adding, “This historic tour to Nepal…will excite our passionate fans…We hope this will ignite more future tours and bilateral cricketing tie-ups between us and other top cricketing nations…”

West Indies ‘A’

West Indies A team is not active as the senior squad. However, CWI has been managing some matches and tours of the A team to develop young and unexperienced cricketers and to use them in the senior squad when in need. 

After touring Bangladesh for two Tests and three ODs in August 2022, West Indies A toured the South Asian country again in May 2023 for three Test matches. With the first and final Test matches of the latest series ending in a draw, West Indies A won the second Test against Bangladesh A.

After the tour to Bangladesh, West Indies A visited South Africa for three Tests in November 2023. South Africa A won the 3-match Test series 2-1.

The A team against South Africa was captained by Joshua Da Silva. Joshua is currently wicketkeeping for the senior squad in Tests. He was in the squad against Australia in January 2024.

Likewise, Shamar Joseph, the fast bowler who shined in the Test series against Australia in January, was also in the A team of West Indies that toured South Africa in November 2023.

While the current members of West Indies ‘A’ are unknown, the team will certainly be formidable. Despite the odds, the Nepali cricket team as well as fans are looking forward to the five-match T20 series.

The series will kick off after Nepal’s senior squad returns home from the ACC Men’s Premier Cup in Oman. The matches of the series against CWI have been scheduled to be played on April 27, April 28, May 1, May 2 and May 4.