Pubudu Dassanayake Guides Usa Vs Nepal Return To TU Ground
usa vs nepal returns to the TU International Cricket Ground after more than six years, and the USA arrive with Pubudu Dassanayake back in Nepal as head coach. The visitors are chasing their first win at the venue, where their last Nepal trip in February 2020 ended without a victory in four matches.
Pubudu Dassanayake and Nepal
Dassanayake has been tied to both sides of this matchup. He coached Nepal from 2011 to 2015, took them to the maiden T20 World Cup in 2014 and helped them win World Cricket League Division-4 and Division-3, then coached the USA from 2016 to 2019.
He later returned to Nepal as head coach in December 2021 before resigning in July 2022. In 2024, he managed Canada at the T20 World Cup and led Janakpur Bolts to the inaugural Nepal Premier League title, while also being associated with Biratnagar Kings for the second edition last year.
USA's February 2020 visit
The last USA tour of Nepal still defines this trip. During the ICC CWC League-2 tri-series in February 2020, the USA lost all four fixtures, including defeats to Oman by six wickets and by 92 runs.
Nepal beat the USA by 35 runs in the first meeting, then followed it with one of the most severe collapses in the series. On February 12, 2020, the USA were all out for 35 in 12 overs, Sandeep Lamichhane took six wickets and Sushan Bhari took four, and Nepal chased 36 with 268 balls remaining.
Points table pressure
The timing adds another layer. Scotland beat Nepal by two runs on Tuesday, leaving the USA and Scotland level on 36 points, but Scotland had played five more matches. The USA sat five matches behind Scotland in the table, with 18 wins in 24 matches to Scotland's 15 wins in 29.
Dassanayake made the target plain when he said, "I aim for wins with any teams I am associated with," and added, "Scotland are on our tail in the points table. We want to win all the matches in Nepal and cement our position at the top." For the USA, this return to TU Ground is not just another trip; it is a chance to erase a result that still hangs over their record there.
