The way we played today showed we belong here: Rohit Paudel

Nepal were placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands, but it still managed to put up a valiant fight. In the penultimate league game against South Africa, they almost won the game before a spirited Tabraiz Shamsi spell propelled South Africa to a one-run win. 

Hence, Rohit Paudel, the Nepal skipper, was understandably happy about the progress and stated that the side would take a lot of heart from their performance.

“I feel like the way we played today; it shows that we belong here. And the way we bowled, I think, and the way we batted also, I think we belong here. And this will give good confidence for the next game against Bangladesh,” Paudel said in the post-match press conference.

On being asked about his emotions in the final stages of the game against South Africa, where many thought Nepal would come on the right side of the result, Paudel said, “I didn't feel anything. I was just there in the moment. Everyone was excited, two runs were needed in two balls. T20 is a fast game. The game shifts with two good balls or even a boundary. So, I think being present is essential, especially in T20, because the momentum shifts a lot. So that's all there is to it, nothing more than that.”

Had Nepal come on the right side of the result, the upcoming clash against Bangladesh would have been a straight knockout for them, thus giving them a chance to script history like the United States of America. However, Paudel made it clear that they will play for pride and will give their best.

“I think we are aware of that situation, especially if we won today's game, it would be a very clear knockout game for Bangladesh and our games. So, apart from that, I think the next game we'll play for pride. Especially, we wanted to beat a Test playing country. Eventually, it didn't happen today. So, we want to do that in the next game. So, the confidence which today we got, so we want to carry that,” the 22-year-old Nepal skipper said.

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