Irfan Ahmed, Khadka in focus ahead of Hong Kong's clash against Nepal

Paras Khadka needs 14 runs to become the first player to hit 500 T20 runs for Nepal.

 A look at the numbers from the clash between Nepal and Hong Kong in the ICC World Twenty20 2014
Both Nepal and Hong Kong, who finished third and fifth in ICC World Twenty20 qualifier 2013 in UAE, will clash against each other on the opening day of the ICC World T20 2014 in Bangladesh on Friday (March 16). We take a look at some of the key battles, approaching milestones and a few facts.

Some Facts

Nepal has won both previous Twenty20 meetings between these teams, at the 2012 and 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournaments.

In the first of those matches Paras Khadka hit what is still the highest score for Nepal in T20 matches – 68 from 62 balls.

That match also contained the third-best figures for Nepal in T20 matches – Chandra Sawad’s 4-24 from four overs.

The most recent meeting, in the qualifying tournament for this event, saw Nepal win off the final ball of the match.

Irfan Ahmed has recorded the two highest scores for Hong Kong in T20 matches (100 against Canada in November 2013 and 91 not out against Denmark in March 2012).

Approaching Milestones:

Khadka needs 14 runs to become the first player to hit 500 T20 runs for Nepal.

Four players (Khadka, Gyanendra Malla, Basanta Regmi and Sharad Vesawkar) are in line to become the first players to represent Nepal 20 times in T20s.

Key Battles: Hong Kong v Nepal – Irfan Ahmed vs. Paras Khadka

Both the all-rounders are in excellent form. Irfan opens the batting for Hong Kong, but it is his bowling that has recently stood out. He has taken nine wickets in four matches in the lead-up to this tournament, with his brand of fast-medium proving hard to get away – he did not concede more than seven runs per over in any of these four matches.

Irfan hit one of the four centuries that were recorded at the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament, although he struggled in his other innings – 100 of his 197 runs came in this one innings.

Khadka got the battle of this head-to-head when these teams met at the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. The Nepal skipper hit 46 from 39 balls to help seal his team’s five-wicket victory.

Khadka enjoys playing against Hong Kong – he hit 68 on the other occasion they have faced each other – and Nepal’s hopes of progression in this event depend heavily on their captain and star player.