England cricket team may tour Nepal for T-20 series by 2031

England’s cricket team may soon visit Nepal, marking the largest international team to tour the country. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering organizing a short T-20 international series in Nepal sometime between 2027 and 2031.

The ECB’s interest follows Nepal’s rapid progress in cricket, highlighted by the national team’s victory over the West Indies in the UAE last year and their first series win against a full ICC member nation. No Test-playing nation has officially toured Nepal yet, making this potential visit significant.

The absence of Test teams in Nepal might change soon. Ireland announced a five-year strategic partnership with the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) in March, planning a visit during the winter of 2026-27.

England and Nepal first met in February during the T-20 World Cup, where England secured a thrilling last-ball victory at Wankhede Stadium, witnessed by a large number of Nepali fans. Following this, CAN Secretary and former captain Paras Khadka met ECB officials in India, as reported by ESPN.

The ECB has been discussing the 2027-31 Future Tours Programme (FTP) with other cricket boards. While the ICC has yet to finalize the new World Test Championship format, England is seriously considering a tour to Nepal, potentially for a two or three-match T-20 series.

There is a possibility of scheduling Nepal before England’s tour of India, serving as a preparatory series with only a few additional days required, according to the ECB.

The enthusiasm of Nepali fans during the T-20 World Cup was widely noted. Nepal’s captain, Rohit Paudel, stated that visits from teams like England or Australia would elevate Nepal’s cricket on the global stage.

He remarked, “If Australia or England come to Nepal, it will mean a lot. It will show world cricket that Nepal is also a country that plays good cricket. It will be extremely important.”

Meanwhile, Sky Sports aired a documentary titled “Nepal: Climbing Cricket Mountain” on Sunday. In it, Paras Khadka emphasized the need for visits from major cricketing nations to further advance Nepali cricket.

Khadka said, “What Nepali cricket needs most right now is exposure. As an ODI nation, we want to play against Test-playing countries because playing against better players is the only way to learn and improve.”

He added, “This will inspire the new generation in Nepal. Cricket has already captured the hearts of Nepali youth. It’s not just a game; it’s become the biggest means of uniting the country.”