New Delhi: Rome was not built in a day. The saying has stood the test of time and often feels like a cliché, but it remains a north star for emerging cricketing nation Nepal. James Clear, the American author famous for Atomic Habits, wrote on his blog: “I think it’s best to remember the other side of the story: Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they laid bricks every hour.“For Nepal, the latest bricks arrived in the form of bank transfers. The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced that US$256,154 from the 2026 T20 World Cup prize pool will be transferred from the Nepal Cricket Association account. While the figure may seem insignificant to the giants of the sport, it exceeds the earnings of established partners such as Namibia, Canada and Oman.
“In reality, Rome was just the result; the bricks were the system,” Clear further noted. “The system is greater than the target.”Nepal’s latest move is a study in the “Jehyl and Hyde” nature of rising powers. There was a four-run defeat to England in the opening match, two consecutive heartbreaking defeats to Italy and the West Indies, and an impressive seven-match win over Scotland.
Nepal players greet supporters after winning the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group match match against Scotland at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 17, 2026. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE/AFP)
But as the dust settles on their third World Cup appearance, one question remains unanswered. How does a country driven by the world’s most passionate football fans turn “almost” into “always”?
Jekyll and Hyde on the global stage
To understand Nepal’s performance, we must look beyond the scorecard. For former Nepal head coach Umesh Patwal, the tournament was about making a statement beyond participation.
If we can get guys like Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Airee or Rohit Paudel to start finishing games, then the gap will shrink. They don’t have enough winning players at the next level.
Umesh Patwal | Former Nepal coach
“I always feel that to make a statement, you have to win a match,” Patwar told TOI in an exclusive conversation. “People are only focused on the championship. They had a good result in the last game and that’s a great thing.”However, the “obstacle” is still the last inch. Nepal narrowly defeated South Africa in the 2024 edition, pushing England to the brink this time.Patwar believes the missing ingredient is not talent but clarity of role in high-pressure moments.“Sometimes it’s just about knowing who needs to put in the extra effort to finish,” Patwal explained. “They are not sure who should be the winner of the match. Once they start believing, like Sandeep [Lamichhane] Should be the main bowler and then the batting must follow. If we can get guys like Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Airee or Rohit Paudel to start finishing games, then the gap will shrink. They don’t have enough winning players at the next level.“
Nepalese cricket fans cheer after their team’s victory over Scotland during the T20 World Cup cricket match in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Gyanendra MallaThe former captain and giant of Nepal cricket shares the same bittersweet feeling.“I was expecting a little more, actually,” Marra admits. “After the first game, the expectations were very high. We couldn’t show 100 per cent of our potential in the middle of the game, but the way we performed in the first and last game, that’s the brand of cricket we want to show the world.”Meanwhile, Nepal captain Rohit Paudel was disappointed on one hand but termed it as a good exposure for his team. “I think there was good exposure and good experience in this World Cup. We wanted to advance to the second half but unfortunately we couldn’t do that. So hopefully we can do it next time,” he told reporters after Nepal’s historic win over Scotland. He added: “It took us 12 years to win a World Cup match. I would put it higher.”
We need a longer season. Schools cricket and the domestic base should become a full-fledged culture and not just a 15-day tournament. We need to look at multi-day formats. This is how you build game awareness.
Gyanendra Malla former Nepal captain
Nepal’s structure: from regions to sectors
If “the system is greater than the goal,” then Nepal’s system is a unique, layered structure that relies heavily on institutional support. Nepal’s talent pipeline is filtered through provinces and government “departments”.The journey begins at the sectional level, with local teams competing in regional tournaments. From this grassroots talent pool, promising talents are selected to join their district teams. These regional teams will then face off within their respective provinces. Players who perform well in these provincial competitions will eventually enter the selection pool and eventually form the provincial team to participate in the Premier Cup competition.PM Cup is the undisputed test of Nepal cricket. It is a national league of ten teams, including seven provincial teams and three “departmental” giants: the Army, the Police and the Armed Police Force (APF).
Nepali players stand for the national anthem before the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Nepal and West Indies in Mumbai, India, Sunday, February 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
These departments act as unofficial guardians of the sport, providing wages and stability to athletes who might be forced to seek labor abroad.Those who emerge from the PM Cup are called to the national training camp, where raw talent is honed and the final lineup of the national team is refined.However, the current structure is still too short. “We need a longer season,” Mara insisted. “Schools cricket and the domestic base should be an experience-based culture, not just a 15-day game. We need to have a multi-day format. That’s how you build awareness of the game.”
Most players are actually police or military, but not full-time. For those at the top, their income is enough to take care of their families. But for regional players, they are actually investing their own money. They are investing in themselves.
Gyanendra Malla former Nepal captain
The Money Gap: Passion vs. Professionalism
In Nepal, cricket is a religion and its priests are often poorly paid. While the top 15 to 20 players on central contracts live a “good enough” life by local standards, the story of the rest of the pyramid is one of sacrifice.“Most players are actually police or military, but not full-time,” Marra said. “For the top players, they make enough to support their families. But for the regional players, they’re actually investing their own money. They’re investing in themselves.”
Nepal captain Rohit Paudel bats during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group match match between Nepal and Italy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 12, 2026. (Photo: Punit PARANJPE/AFP)
This financial instability often forces players to seek income elsewhere, leading to friction with management over “distractions” such as social media.During the World Cup, head coach Stuart Law instructed his players to limit their attention to social media. However, Patwal believes it is a survival mechanism.“Social media is a part of these people because they don’t make money,” Patwar says bluntly. “I worked there for two years and we didn’t get a penny of salary. In a country like Nepal, the only way these people are seen as heroes and spread is through the media. If they can make some money off of it, I’m happy for them. “
Nepal lacks “championship mentality”
What’s the next brick? For Patwar, it’s not just about playing more games; It’s about changing the “environment”. He believes that there is no use playing against a strong team if you don’t understand how they think.“I don’t think just playing internationals helps. How long have New Zealand or South Africa been playing? Have they won the World Cup?” asked Patwar. “We have a poor mentality and we think playing makes you a cricketer. You have to fit into the culture. My suggestion is that at least six of these players should play in the IPL or the Big Bash.”
If someone like Sanju Samson needs help, you can understand the struggle of these Nepali players. They don’t have those local heroes to emulate, those game winners who have actually been there and done that.
Umesh Patwal | Former Nepal coach
Patwar feels that even if players like Rohit Paudel or Deependra Ally don’t make it into the IPL starting XI, “just being with the team, looking at the training part, eating habits, sleeping habits, that’s a big attrition.”“even Sanzhou Samson (Best Player of T20 World Cup 2026) Sachin Tendulkar Kudos to him for his performance,” Patwar added.“If someone like Samson needs help, you can understand the struggle of these Nepali players. They don’t have local heroes to emulate or winners who have actually been through the competition and done it.”Malla agrees with Patwar and believes Nepal’s geography is its greatest untapped resource.
Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel shoots during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Nepal and Scotland on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
“We are lucky to have four test country neighbors, but we don’t use that as an advantage,” Marra said. “Often playing against India’s ‘A’ team or ‘B’ team, even ranji trophy Team, will help our children learn how the big guys think. We need BCCI’s help to grow as a nation and eventually become a Test nation. “
A new identity is unfolding
For decades, Nepal’s global image has been closely tied to its geography, the towering peaks of the Himalayas and the brave Gurkhas. Today, that identity is changing.
They have skills. They are the best runners between the wickets and also the best defenders. They just need to sit among the champions. Once they do, the end will come.
Umesh Patwal | Former Nepal coach
“Before this, Nepal was only known for its mountains,” Malla said with a smile. “Now, the new identity is cricket. It is uniting everyone, even as we go through grief. It is the next big thing for our country.”
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What do you think is the biggest challenge to success in Nepali cricket?
The bricks are being laid, hour after hour.The International Cricket Federation’s prize money may go towards better internet and “bricks” of local travel, but the “Rome” of Nepal cricket, a Test match nation with a world-class record, needs something more.“They have the ability,” Pawar concluded. “They are the best runners between the wickets, the best fielding side. They just need to sit among the champions. Once they do that, the end will come.”
