ECB exploring potential for England tour of Nepal in 2027-31 FTP cycle

England’s men could become the biggest international team yet to tour Nepal, with the ECB exploring the prospect of scheduling a short T20I series at some stage in the 2027-31 international cycle.

Nepali cricket has grown at a rapid rate in recent years, and they won a series against a full ICC member for the first time last year when they beat West Indies in the UAE, but they are yet to host a Test-playing nation for a fully-fledged international tour.

That could change later this year, with Cricket Ireland announcing in March that they have signed a five-year ‘strategic partnership agreement’ with the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and are planning a white-ball tour in the 2026-27 winter.

England and Nepal met for the first time at the T20 World Cup in February, with England shading a tight game off the final ball in front of a partisan Nepali crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, and ESPNcricinfo has learned that Paras Khadka – the former Nepal captain who is now CAN secretary – met ECB officials in India in the days following that match.

The ECB have been working through the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2027-31 with other international boards in recent months, though there are still several moving parts as they await confirmation from the ICC of the new World Test Championship (WTC) format, including whether the minimum of two matches in a series will be removed.

But they are seriously considering a short men’s tour to Nepal at some stage in that cycle, which would likely fit into their schedule immediately before a subsequent white-ball tour – in India, for example. While the ECB are wary of packing even more fixtures into their busy men’s international schedule, a two or three-match T20I series could double as preparation for another series and add only a few days to their itinerary.

Rohit Paudel, Nepal’s captain, said at the T20 World Cup that a major nation touring Nepal could “help globalise” the game. “It would mean a lot, especially if Australia or England comes to Nepal,” he said. “That would show world cricket [that] Nepal also plays cricket, and plays decent cricket… It is very important.”

Sky Sports, the primary TV rightsholder in the UK, broadcast a documentary on Sunday called ‘Nepal: Climbing Cricket’s Mountain’ highlighting Nepal’s passion for the game, in which Khadka called on major international teams to tour and provide “exposure” for Nepali cricket.

“What Nepal cricket needs right now is exposure,” Khadka said. “Because we’re an ODI country, we want matches against Test-playing nations because the only way you improve as a cricketer is when you play against better cricketers, when you play against better opponents. That’s when you learn the game.

“What that will do is that will ignite this whole generation of kids back home, because cricket is now in the hearts of a young Nepali,” he added. “Cricket is not just a sport. It’s the most uniting factor [in the country].”

England’s men will host Australia for the Ashes as the centrepiece of their 2027 home summer, while Pakistan (June) and New Zealand (September) are also likely to travel for white-ball series. Pakistan’s tour could also feature a one-off Test, depending on the ICC’s final decision on the WTC’s format for the 2027-29 edition.

England’s women are due to host Bangladesh in September as well as an Ashes series against Australia, though the fixtures will depend on the schedule for the inaugural women’s Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.

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