As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 progresses, Nepal’s head coach Stuart Law has publicly expressed his reservations about the scheduling and venue assignments for his team.
Law’s concerns center on the fact that all of Nepal’s matches are being held in India, specifically at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, rather than in Sri Lanka, which he believes would better suit his team’s playing style.
Law highlighted that Sri Lanka’s turning pitches would be more advantageous for Nepal, given their strong spin bowling resources. He emphasized that playing on pitches with consistent turn would allow Nepal to fully leverage their tactical strengths and skillset.
While he clarified that his comments were not meant as criticism of India, he expressed a wish that Nepal’s matches were scheduled in Sri Lanka, where the conditions align more closely with his team’s capabilities.
Despite his preference for Sri Lanka, Law acknowledged the positives of playing at the Wankhede Stadium, describing it as one of the most iconic cricket venues globally.
He also noted the benefit of reduced travel demands by playing all matches at a single location, which can be advantageous for team logistics and player rest.
Law contrasted the conditions at the R Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka with those in Mumbai. He pointed out that the larger outfield in Sri Lanka would enable his players to maximize their speed between wickets and better utilize their spin bowlers. In contrast, the Mumbai ground’s boundary measures approximately 70 meters, leaving little room for error for bowlers who miss their lengths.
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This is not the first instance of a team raising concerns about the tournament’s scheduling. Last week, Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not providing his team with a night training session ahead of their evening match against India. These concerns suggest that some teams feel the scheduling and venue arrangements may not be optimal for their preparation and performance.
The T20 World Cup 2026 continues to draw significant attention, with teams and fans closely watching how conditions and scheduling impact the competition. Nepal’s call for matches to be held in Sri Lanka underscores the importance of venue selection in international cricket tournaments, particularly for teams relying on specific playing conditions.
