Sandeep Lamichhane replaces Rohit Paudel as Nepal’s ODI captain
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Sandeep Lamichhane’s first assignment will ACC Premier Cup.
On Monday, August 10, the Cricket Association of Nepal announced a 14-member squad for the upcoming ACC Premier Cup. However, what caught the attention of many was Sandeep Lamichhane being appointed as the new captain of the ODI team.
Lamichhane returns to the ODI captaincy after previously leading Nepal in the format in 2022. He had earlier taken over as Nepal’s national captain in December 2021, replacing Gyanendra Malla, and led the side in both ODIs and T20Is at that time before Rohit Paudel took over the captaincy in 2022.
Under Paudel’s leadership, Nepal enjoyed a strong run in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, winning 11 of their 12 ODI matches. The results helped Nepal secure a place in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.
Sandeep Lamichhane named new Nepal ODI captain
Lamichhane’s appointment marks his return as Nepal’s ODI captain after more than four years. He previously captained Nepal in 14 ODIs in 2022, recording four wins, nine defeats and one tie.
The 26-year-old leg-spinner has also been an important member of Nepal’s bowling attack. He reached 154 ODI wickets in 77 matches, becoming the fastest player to reach the landmark in terms of matches and the fastest Nepal player to reach 100 wickets in T20Is.
Nepal’s upcoming assignment under Lamichhane is the ACC Premier Cup, which is scheduled to begin in Malaysia on August 30. The captaincy change gives Lamichhane another opportunity to lead Nepal in the 50-over format, with the team entering a new phase under his leadership.
Despite losing the ODI captaincy, Rohit Paudel has retained his place in Nepal’s squad. The squad also features experienced campaigners such as Dipendra Singh Airee, Karan KC and Aasif Sheikh, along with all-rounder Gulshan Jha.
Nepal are placed in Group A alongside Bahrain, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia for the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026. They will begin their campaign on September 1 against Saudi Arabia at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.
Who did Sandeep Lamichhane replace as Nepal ODI captain?
Lamichhane replaced Rohit Paudel as Nepal’s ODI captain.
What is Nepal’s next major assignment under Sandeep Lamichhane?
Nepal’s next major assignment is the ACC Premier Cup in Malaysia.
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Anubha Anandita Pathak is a sports enthusiast with a strong passion for cricket and basketball, shaped by her experience as a district-level basketball and kabaddi player. A loyal Golden State Warriors supporter, she closely follows Stephen Curry’s style of play. With on-ground reporting experience covering the Indian Super League and Karnataka’s hockey circuit, Anubha brings both perspective and passion to her storytelling.