Nepal vs UAE Preview – T20 International, 20 April 2026 | Statz Cricket

19th April 2026

Nepal and the United Arab Emirates meet at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur for the first match of their T20I series on Monday – and home advantage could prove decisive for a Nepal side that has historically made life very difficult for visiting teams at altitude.

Venue

Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur sits at over 1,300 metres above sea level, and that altitude factor is real. The thin air typically assists pace and bounce – batters get more carry but bowlers extract movement. Ground data is not yet available in the Statz Cricket grounds directory for this venue, so pitch-specific first-innings scoring benchmarks cannot be confirmed from Statz data alone. What is on record: UAE averaged just 130.5 runs per match in their two 2026 T20I games – well below par for a competitive T20 unit. Nepal’s home record at Kirtipur is worth monitoring through the Statz fixture page.

Form and H2H

These teams have met three times in T20I cricket, all back in 2019, with Nepal edging the series 2-1. Nepal open their 2026 T20I campaign here, so there is no current-season form to report – this is a fresh start. UAE, however, arrive having lost both of their 2026 T20I fixtures, averaging just 130.5 runs per innings. That is a concerning return for a batting line-up that should be capable of more.

In H2H history, Shaiman Anwar (103 runs) and CP Rizwan (68 runs) were UAE’s standout performers, with Nepal’s Sundeep Jora (82 runs) the top run-scorer on the home side. Wickets went to Abinash Bohara and Sultan Ahmed (6 each) for UAE, while Sandeep Lamichhane took 5 across the series for Nepal.

Statz Projections

The Statz AI model gives Dipendra Singh Airee the highest Dream11 projection for Nepal at 88.7 points – a reflection of his all-round value as a bat-bowling option who can contribute in multiple phases. Kushal Bhurtel follows on 84.5 D11 points, and Sandeep Lamichhane projects at 66.4. For UAE, Junaid Siddique leads the projections on 65.2 D11 points, with Muhammad Waseem (63.1) and Sohaib Khan (61.5) the other standouts.

Win probability and full projections are available on the Statz projections tab (PRO).

Predicted Lineups

These are T20 Internationals and no confirmed toss or XI is available yet. Based on Statz projected player data and recent form, expected contributors include:

Nepal (likely): Kushal Bhurtel, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sundeep Jora, Gulsan Jha, Lokesh Bam, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nandan Yadav

UAE (likely): Muhammad Waseem, Aryansh Sharma, Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawad Ullah

Check the fixture page for any confirmed changes after the toss.

Key Players

Kushal Bhurtel (Nepal) – Right-hand bat who averages 22.5 runs across his last 15 T20 games at a strike rate of 101.4. Has a highest score of 93 and takes wickets too (10 in his last 15). Hit 25+ runs in 40% of recent games and registered boundaries in 80% – a reliable option at the top of Nepal’s order.

Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal) – Nepal’s most recognisable bowling weapon. 44 wickets across his last 30 T20 games, including a best of 5/9. Took 5 wickets in the previous H2H series against UAE and projects at 66.4 D11 points here. The toss and conditions will dictate how big an impact he has, but at home in Kirtipur he is dangerous.

Muhammad Waseem (UAE) – The top-ranked D11 projection for UAE at 63.1 points. Averages 28.6 runs per game across his last 30 T20s at a strike rate of 122.9. Has scored 25+ runs in half his recent games and registered boundaries in 87%. UAE’s batting depends heavily on him getting going.

Junaid Siddique (UAE) – Quiet with the bat but consistently dangerous with the ball. 45 wickets across his last 30 T20 games, with a best of 5/35. Took 9 wickets in his last 5 games. UAE’s most potent bowling threat and the best D11 projection for their bowling unit (65.2 D11 points).

Verdict

Nepal win. Home advantage at altitude, a 2-1 H2H lead, and UAE arriving on the back of two defeats makes this straightforward on paper. UAE’s average of 130.5 runs per innings in 2026 suggests their batting has work to do – and Sandeep Lamichhane at home in Kirtipur will fancy his chances against that kind of total-setting ability. Nepal to win the opener and set up the series.

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All data sourced from Statz Cricket. Check the fixture page for live updates and confirmed lineups.