The upcoming ‘Under Lights T20 Cricket’ series between Nepal and the UAE, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, highlights three significant aspects for Nepal. First, it marks the return of international cricket competitions on Nepalese soil after a two-year hiatus. Second, this will be the first international match held under artificial lighting at the Kirtipur Stadium. Third, it is the inaugural home series under the leadership of Australian coach Stuart Law for the Nepalese national men’s team. The series kicks off this evening at 5 PM under the captaincy of Dipendra Singh Airee, with ticket prices set at NPR 750. The primary attraction of the series is the longstanding rivalry between Nepal and the UAE, which has consistently drawn keen interest from cricket enthusiasts.
Many will recall that the last encounter between Nepal and the UAE took place during the T20 World Cup qualifiers in 2026 held in Oman. In a thrilling match, Nepal clinched a World Cup berth by defeating the UAE by just one run on the last ball of the final over. This time, under Dipendra Singh Airee’s captaincy, Nepal’s team will participate in a T20 format on the field for the first time, introducing a fresh and exciting dynamic to the contest.
The Nepalese government rapidly upgraded the Kirtipur Cricket Ground to international standards. After construction delays by the contractor led to significant fines amounting to millions of rupees, Nepal successfully hosted its first international floodlit stadium. Earlier in 2024, Nepal participated in the T20 World Cup held in the United States and West Indies in June, and also competed in another World Cup tournament in February at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Stuart Law, regarded as a skilled coach from Australia, has already formed two separate national teams prior to the series, signaling distinct strategies tailored for One Day Internationals and T20Is. Assigning Dipendra Singh Airee as the T20 captain, he has rested senior players like Rohit Paudel, thereby restructuring the team. Within the next five weeks, Law faces the pressure of achieving positive results in eight matches of the League 2 competition.
