Asia Cup: Frenzied crowd and world’s No 1 side lie in wait for debutants Nepal in Pakistan

Nepal have had a lengthy wait for their shot at Asia Cup cricket, but by the time they booked their tickets for their debut tournament earlier this summer, they might have felt they were ready.

After all, they have been preparing for this moment for years. Big-match experience in front of fervent support? Check. Attendant riot police in case the atmosphere ever boils over? Always.

All that sort of stuff goes on at most major matches at Tribhuvan University, as the cricketers of the UAE will attest. Twice this year, Nepal have beaten the UAE to big prizes while being bayed on by over-capacity crowds in Kathmandu – including qualification for this Asia Cup.

And yet the touring side will have experienced nothing like what is in store in Multan, where they face Pakistan in the competition opener on Wednesday.

Everything is ramped up to extreme levels, from the security operation to the standard of opposition.

When the respective teams are on their way to the stadium, they do not follow the same route they have previously taken. The convoys include van loads of special forces troopers.

There is a massive police presence on the streets, including roadblocks preventing access anywhere near the stadium.

Then there is the small matter of the opposition. Nepal acquitted themselves well when they played full-member opposition for the first time at the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe recently, but this is a different test altogether. Now they are going up against the world’s No 1 side.

And they will be playing against them at Pakistan’s biggest cricket stadium, in front of what is often referred to as the country’s most fierce support.

“It is always a great feeling to play in front of the passionate Multan crowd and we all are very