Nepal men’s team captain Rohit Paudel found himself at the centre of a heated moment during Nepal’s ICC Cricket World Cup League Two encounter against the USA at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground on Friday. The controversy erupted on the last delivery of the 38th over when Paudel was ruled out lbw after a sweep attempt, despite replays suggesting contact with his glove rather than his pad.
Key takeaways
- Rohit Paudel was given out lbw off Milind Kumar on the final ball of the 38th over.
- Replays appeared to show the ball hitting Paudel’s glove as he tried to play a sweep shot.
- Nepal were 194/2 at the time of the dismissal, with Paudel on 46.
- Despite the setback, Nepal posted 317/8 and later restricted the USA to 195, winning by 122 runs.
- Paudel reacted visibly to the decision, including gesturing at the umpire and then punching his bat.
Controversial lbw decision turns on a glove edge
With Nepal in a strong position at 194/2, Paudel was batting on 46 when Milind Kumar delivered the final ball of the 38th over. Umpire’s finger went up immediately after the ball appeared to roll towards the wicketkeeper, following what looked like an edge onto the gloves during Paudel’s attempted sweep.
Replays indicated that the ball had struck Paudel’s glove rather than the pads. Paudel’s reaction was swift and emotional: he gestured towards the officials to suggest the contact had occurred either with his bat or glove. As he returned to the pavilion, he also showed frustration by swinging his bat, and he later punched it as well.
In situations like this, players can be dealt with under the Level 1 or Level 2 Code of Conduct framework, particularly for visible expressions of frustration such as swearing or throwing and hitting items around the field. At the time of writing, it was not clear whether Paudel would face any formal sanction for his conduct following the dismissal.
Nepal bounce back to seal a big win
Even with the dismissal controversy hanging over the innings, Nepal regrouped effectively. They went on to compile 317/8 in their first innings, setting a challenging target for the USA.
The USA were then bowled out for 195. Nepal’s bowlers ensured they kept control of the chase throughout, and the match ended with Nepal winning by 122 runs.
Paudel’s wider captaincy context and calls for stronger opposition
Paudel remains the captain of Nepal and also led the side in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Nepal had previously come close to toppling England during that tournament, only to fall short by four runs at Wankhede Stadium.
During the T20 World Cup, Paudel had urged Nepal to receive more regular opportunities against established cricketing nations. He said that if Nepal could play these teams consistently—suggesting not only a single series but at least one or two—then it would help the team “test ourselves” and improve faster.
He had also highlighted the importance for Nepal’s cricket development if higher-profile sides such as Australia, England, or India toured the country. Paudel noted that the arrival of an Australian or English team would be especially significant for Nepal.
