KARACHI, July 4: Nepal cricketers are first to arrive here Saturday from Kathmandu to participate in Asian Youth Cup tournament being held at various centres of Karachi from July 14.

Nepalese will be staying at Pakistan Steel Sports Complex hostel till July 12 before moving into Sheraton Hotel where all the ten-teams will be lodged on the expenses of Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is conducting the event on behalf of ACC. The event was originally was to be held in Singapore but shifted to Karachi because of SARS problem.

Before the event, Nepal will play three practice games two against KCCA under-19 and one against Ahmed Mustufa’s Cricket Coaching Centre.

Out of three warm games, Nepal will play one match vs KCCA under-19 at Quaid-e-Azam Park Steel Township while remaining games will be played at PCB Academy Ground.

The visiting Nepalese team will take on Maldives in their opening pool “A” match at National Stadium on July 14.

The event is being contested between associated members of ACC and finalist will qualify to play in World Youth Cup being held in Bangladesh in January/February 2004.

Nepal cricketers produced a major shocking result during 2002 World Junior Cup when they defeated Pakistan in Christchurch.

Nepal team was trained and coached by Pakistanis including Taslim Arif and Haroon Rasheed in the past.—APP