KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced a 28-member preliminary squad for the national U-19 women’s cricket team ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup and next year’s ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup.

Sony Pakhrin has been named captain of the preliminary squad, which has been selected for the first phase of the team’s training camp. The camp is aimed at preparing the young players for two major international competitions.

The preliminary squad includes Pakhrin, Pratha Shrestha, Rachana Chaudhary, Chandramaya Baral, Kusum Godar, Ranjana Saud, Jyotsika Marasini, Tirsana Bishwakarma, Riya Sharma, Prinsa Rana Magar, Tika Sah, Purnima Rajbanshi and Anjila Pathak.

Also included in the training camp are Aashna Chaudhary, Supriya Budha Magar, Pratima Sah, Sakshi Yadav, Aarti Mahato, Sabitri Dhami, Manisha Chaudhary, Jayanti Bhandari, Ashikakumari Mahara, Anju Parki, Sonam Joshi, Anu Kadayat, Maniyakumari Upadhyay, Sana Praveen and Alisa Kumar Yadav.

CAN Secretary Paras Khadka said the association will announce the final squad soon. Some of the selected players have already represented Nepal’s senior women’s national cricket team.

The selection is considered an important step in building Nepal’s next generation of women cricketers as the team prepares for major international challenges.