Indu Barma won the toss for Nepal, opting to bowl first in their Women’s Asia Cup 2024 opener against UAE.
Nepal returned to this competition for the first time since 2016, after finishing as semi-finalists in the ACC Women’s Premier Cup. They fielded an experienced top three: veteran Rubina Chhetry, who stepped down as captain last year, opened with all-rounder Sita Rana Magar, and Barma at number three. Left-arm spinner Kritika Marasini, who led the bowling charts in the Lalitpur Mayor Women’s Championship in May, was also included in the XI, having missed their previous Premier Cup match.
UAE, winners of the Women’s Premier Cup, narrowly missed a spot in the Women’s T20 World Cup in October, losing to Sri Lanka in the qualifier semi-final in May. They fielded a settled line-up with many versatile players, similar to their T20 World Cup Qualifier team.
Windy conditions in Dambulla led broadcaster Isobel Joyce to suggest that a left-right batting combination could challenge the bowlers.
Nepal Playing XI:
1. Rubina Chhetry
2. Sita Rana Magar
3. Indu Barma (captain)
4. Kabita Kanwar
5. Kabita Joshi
6. Puja Mahato
7. Bindu Rawal
8. Kajal Sreshtha (wk)
9. Kritika Marasini
10. Samjhana Khadka
11. Sabnam Rai
UAE Playing XI:
1. Esha Oza (captain)
2. Theertha Satish (wk)
3. Rinitha Rajith
4. Kavisha Egodage
5. Samaira Dharnidharka
6. Khushi Sharma
7. Lavanya Keny
8. Vaishnave Mahesh
9. Indhuja Nandakumar
10. Heena Hotchandani
11. Rithika Rajith