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NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Priyank Panchal's time in Kathmandu last year left him with an impression far deeper than on-field moments. What lingered most was not the buzz of playing before a full house, but the genuine warmth he encountered from people who live and love the game.

Set against the backdrop of the Himalayas, cricket in Nepal is woven into everyday life, yet it carries a gentler, more welcoming spirit. The sport is followed with deep affection and pride, marked by smiles and sincerity rather than the intense, almost overwhelming fervour often associated with cricket fandom across the subcontinent.

"Every player I met, every official I encountered and all the fans I came across greeted me with a lot of warmth and a big smile. No one raises their voice. The passion for cricket and the love for their stars is so genuine," Panchal, the former India A captain told PTI about his stint in the second edition of the Nepal Premier League with the Karnali Yaks franchise.

Small nation, big dreams

A nation of over three crore people will be pinning their hopes on just 15 players when Nepal take the field at Wankhede Stadium on February 8 for their T20 World Cup opener against England, following back-to-back qualifications for the tournament.

The team carries more than just their own ambitions - they carry the dreams of an entire nation, hoping to be lifted by the unwavering support of fans who turn every match into a celebration.

For Nepal, a team that once struggled with even the most basic cricket infrastructure, this T20 World Cup represents more than just another tournament appearance - it's a defining moment in their journey on the global stage.

Fans ready to back their team

Fans are expected to flock to Chennai for the warm-up matches and later to Mumbai for the main tournament, cheering passionately as Rohit Paudel and his men take on the world.

"I have heard that ticket sales for Nepal's matches at the Wankhede Stadium have been very brisk. Had we played in Delhi, there would have been a sizeable crowd at Kotla too.

"Our fans, the biggest number of travelling ones after India and Pakistan, are our strength," said Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) president Chatur Bahadur Chand, who is also a senior politician representing the Nepali Congress party.

Team composition that looks settled

The Nepal team looks gutsy with skipper Paudel one of their batting mainstays.

Then there is veteran Karan KC, Sompal Kami and the biggest of them all -- Sandeep Lamichhane -- the only player from the region to have featured in the IPL, Big Bash League and the Caribbean Premier League.

"Sandeep is obviously our biggest player but Rohit has also led the side very well in the past few years. We have had some good wins. We missed out on the Asia Cup after losing to Oman in the qualifiers but this time we are well-prepared. We had a good pre-tournament camp in Sri Lanka," Chand said.

Even Panchal agrees that Nepal have the ability to create an upset in the group stages.

"Sompal Kami and Nandan Yadav are very good new-ball bowlers. Their ground fielding is excellent. The commitment is 200 per cent, which is very important," said Panchal, who believes that playing alongside Faf du Plessis, Jimmy Neesham and Martin Guptill helped the locals immensely during NPL.

Currently, Nepal has only one ground -- the Tribhuvan University Stadium in Kirtipur -- where floodlights were installed before the NPL, and the government is now spending money to refurbish the venue.

"My dream is to have at least five stadiums by 2030 and at least one more by next year. We already have central contracts in place, with top cricketers being paid a monthly salary of Nepali Rupee one lakh (INR 62,000) apart from match fees," said Chand.

Top players in the NPL are paid around Nepali Rupee 20 lakh, but what has drawn attention is how well CAN organised the two editions. Unlike many private leagues across the globe that are flush with Indian investors, the eight team owners in CAN are all sons of the soil who have pooled in money to form consortiums.

CAN chief credits Jay Shah

However, Chand is indebted to ICC chairman and former BCCI secretary Jay Shah for the assistance so far.

"Our players have had a lot of camps in Delhi and at the NCA in Bengaluru. The Indian embassy in Nepal has also helped us a lot.

"Jay bhai has been a constant support and he wants Nepal to be the next Test nation. After the T20 World Cup, we will also focus on our first-class structure. The current aim is to qualify for the Super Eights," said the CAN supremo, who is contesting parliamentary elections on March 5.

Nepal have a good chance of beating both Italy and Scotland, and if they can upset either England or the West Indies, they would make it to the next round.

Chand will be present during the first game against England on February 8 but will return for campaigning.

Nepal Squad: Kushal Bhurtel, Sundeep Jora, Rohit Paudel (Captain), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Aasif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Sandeep Lamichhane, Basir Ahamad, Gulsan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla.

Nepal Fixtures:

Feb 8: vs England in Mumbai

Feb 12: vs Italy in Mumbai

Feb 15: vs West Indies in Mumbai

Feb 17: vs Scotland.

(With PTI Inputs)