Kathmandu, Oct. 23: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), on Tuesday, revealed a 7-man squad to participate in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2024 taking place from November 1 to 3. The squad filled with youngsters will be facing the likes of Australia and England in the group stage.

With the inaugural first edition in 1992, Hong Kong Sixes is returning after a gap of seven years with 12 teams (8 full members and 4 associates) participating in the 20th edition in 2024.

Pakistan, England and South Africa have won the tournament five times each while Sri Lanka, Australia, India and West Indies have bagged it once.

Thus, Nepal is facing two former champions, Australia and England, in Group B. The hosts, Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Africa make up Group A; India, Pakistan and the UAE are in Group C; and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Oman are in Group D.

According to CAN, the team for the Sixes Tournament will be led by Gyanendra Malla as the head coach and Sundeep Jora as the captain. Other players in the squad are Lokesh Bam, Narayan Joshi, Bibek Yadav, Pratish GC, Dipendra Rawat and Rashid Khan.

The seven players have fewer than 75 T20Is under their belt; of them, Narayan and Dipendra have not played at the international level for the country. Jora is the most experienced player in the squad.

Nevertheless, the youngsters will have a great challenge ahead in the Group Stage. 

Regarding Australia, Nepal’s opponent on November 2, their squad is being led by all-rounder Dan Christian, who is in his early 40s. A former national player, Dan has played for Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL. Other players in the squad are Alex Ross, Andrew Fekete, Fawad Ahmed, Jack Wood and James Pattinson. England, Nepal’s opponent on November 1, is yet to reveal their squad.

Rules of 2024 Hong Kong Sixes

Each team consists of six players and each match will be played across a six-over format with teams required to complete a six-over-inning within 25 minutes. 

While runs are scored and counted in the usual manner, a batter must retire ‘not out’ on reaching a personal score of 50 runs. Moreover, if five wickets fall before 6 overs are completed, the last remaining batter shall bat on with the 5th out batter, acting only as a runner. The last remaining batter must always take a strike.

Regarding bowling, four bowlers may bowl a maximum of one over per inning and one bowler can bowl two overs.

Similarly, in the event of a tie at the end of the match, the winner will be decided based on the number of sixes hit during their innings, and if that number is tied, officials will focus on the number of fours hit. If the sixes and fours also tie, the number of wickets lost will be checked and it shall be followed by net run rate.