Nepal national cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane said he was happy that Nepal had succeeded in retaining its One Day International (ODI) status, speaking to journalists at the airport after returning home on Tuesday evening. He said the team would aim to perform even better in the upcoming League 2 cycle, following Nepal's reported sixth-place finish in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 and a win against Oman.
Nepal's League 2 finish
According to a report by Ratopati, Nepal secured its ODI status by finishing sixth after defeating Oman in the League 2 competition. The result was reported as the achievement that enabled Nepal to retain its status, although the International Cricket Council's official position was still awaited.
Lamichhane's comments came as the team returned to Nepal. Addressing journalists at the airport, he expressed satisfaction with the outcome and looked ahead to the next League 2 cycle. His remarks linked the immediate result - retaining ODI status - with the team's stated ambition to improve its performance in the competition ahead.
The sixth-place finish and the victory over Oman were central to the report of Nepal's achievement. The available information does not provide further details of the match or the wider standings, so the result remains the key sporting context for Lamichhane's comments. Nor had an official ICC announcement been reported at the time, leaving formal confirmation of the status outcome pending.
Captain points to the next cycle
Lamichhane said Nepal would perform even better in the upcoming League 2 cycle. He did not, in the reported remarks, set out specific targets or describe changes to the team's approach. His comments instead conveyed satisfaction with having retained ODI status while indicating that Nepal would seek stronger performances in the next cycle.
That forward-looking message came alongside recognition of the result already achieved. Nepal's reported finish in sixth place, following the win over Oman, meant the team had met the outcome needed to retain its status, according to the report. The captain's statement underscored the importance the team placed on that achievement, while keeping attention on what lies ahead in League 2.
For now, the reported result and the ICC's pending official position are distinct parts of the story. Nepal's retention of ODI status has been reported after its League 2 finish, while the governing body's confirmation was still awaited. Lamichhane's comments offer the team's reaction in the meantime: he is pleased with the outcome and expects Nepal to do better in the next cycle.
