Nepal face UAE with final place at stake

By Shashank Timsina | Posted Posted Apr 18, 2024

Nepal will play against the UAE in the semifinals of the ACC Men�s Premier Cup on Friday in what has been dubbed by the El Clasico of Associate cricket.

At the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), UAE will be up against their arch rivals, who had smashed them in the final of the previous edition.

While UAE have lost one game in the group stage, Nepal had remained unbeaten. UAE’s only loss came against hosts Oman.

In T20Is, Nepal and the UAE have met nine times, with Nepal emerging victorious in five of those matches. In the last four T20I encounters between the two teams, Nepal have won three.

However, Nepal are yet to secure a win against the UAE at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), having lost both matches played at this venue.

Key Players for Nepal

Dipendra Singh Airee and Gulsan Jha, both in excellent form, are crucial assets for Nepal in the upcoming must-win semi-final. Airee boasts an impressive average of 45 against the UAE in T20 internationals, showcasing his ability to dominate the match single-handedly.

Meanwhile, Gulsan Jha has a strong track record against the UAE in crucial matches, delivering with both bat and ball. He holds an average of 42 against the UAE across formats and has taken 13 wickets in 12 matches.

On the other side, UAE’s in-form batsman, Asif Khan, has found himself troubled by Gulshan Jha in T20Is, being dismissed by him three times while only managing 21 runs against him.

Threats for Nepal

Asif Khan, who has made a remarkable comeback for the UAE side after a lengthy absence, is in red-hot form. He has scored 211 runs in the four innings he played during the group stage, with an impressive average of 105 and a formidable strike rate of 171.54.

Left-arm spinner Aayan Afzal Khan will pose a significant threat to Nepali batters, especially considering their record against left-arm spinners.

Aayan has been in excellent form, having already claimed seven wickets in the tournament with an impressive economy rate of 5.40.