MUMBAI, India – Nepal’s T20 World Cup campaign is at a crossroads, and head coach Stuart Law has delivered a stark message to his players: focus on cricket, and tune out the noise of social media. Following a promising near-upset against England and a subsequent disappointing defeat to Italy, Law is urging his team to rediscover the mental fortitude needed to compete on the world stage.
The contrasting results have exposed a fragility Law attributes, in part, to the distractions of social media. “I think the way that we’ve got to look at it now is we’ve got to work out why the gulf from the England game to the Italy game happened,” Law said in Mumbai, ahead of a crucial must-win match against West Indies. “I think if the Nepalese people in the room here, I think they will understand that social media is a massive part of the Nepalese culture. To me, social media can be a huge distraction. If you’re focusing on what you’re doing on social media, if you’re focusing on what people are saying about us on social media, and not focusing on what the team needs, the team-mates are saying, and the game applies, you’re distracted from your actual job.”
Nepal came within four runs of defeating two-time champions England in a thrilling contest on , but then suffered a comprehensive 10-wicket loss to Italy four days later. This dramatic shift in performance has prompted Law to question his team’s commitment and mental toughness. “To go from that high to then go to an extreme low four days later, that’s not showing mental toughness,” Law stated. “It’s not showing commitment to your team, to your country, to your family, to your team-mates. So we need to make sure that we understand that we need to do that better, and how we address that from now on needs to come from good conversations, positive conversations.”
Law acknowledges the complex relationship his players have with social media, recognizing its importance for endorsements and sponsorship opportunities. However, he believes that success on the field will naturally translate to increased online engagement. “I’ve tried to explain to them that if we keep winning games of cricket, your likes will go up anyway,” he said. “You don’t have to keep showing your face if you show that cricket in Nepal is going forward and we’re winning games of cricket. Your attraction on social media will go through the roof.”
The coach, self-described as a “social media dinosaur,” admits he doesn’t fully grasp the intricacies of online platforms but is acutely aware of their potential negative impact. He’s attempting to strike a balance, encouraging his players to prioritize cricket during the tournament. “I’m trying to strike a happy medium with the players so (as to) make sure they’re focused on their cricket, number one, and the rest of the nonsense that I call it,” Law explained. “I’ve said that to the boys today – take that away from cricket, do it away from cricket. When you’re in cricket, do your cricket.”
Nepal’s journey in international cricket has been marked by moments of promise. They famously defeated Afghanistan in the 2014 T20 World Cup, and in the 2024 edition, they nearly upset South Africa, falling short by a single run. More recently, they secured a historic 2-1 series victory against a depleted West Indies side in September of last year. These successes demonstrate the potential within the team, but consistency remains a challenge.
Law believes that developing a robust domestic structure is crucial for Nepal’s long-term progress. “we need a proper domestic structure,” he said. “They have pathways from very young ages right through to the senior national men’s and women’s team. To replicate that is going to take a lot, and unfortunately it takes a lot of money to make it happen.” He highlighted the importance of investment in grassroots cricket and the creation of opportunities for young players to develop their skills.
The recent launch of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) is a positive step, according to Law, providing a platform for emerging talent and generating much-needed funds. “The way that cricket in Nepal is building, the NPL is really helping us now,” he said. “That will help generate funds but also help generate better players underneath this group.” He also emphasized the need for a multi-day format to nurture the technical skills and tactical awareness of players.
Currently ranked 18th in the ICC T20I rankings, Nepal faces a daunting task to remain competitive in the tournament. They must defeat both West Indies, the current Group C leaders, and Scotland in their remaining matches to have any chance of progressing. Law also noted a preference for playing on turning pitches, believing they would better suit Nepal’s strengths. “No disrespect to India, but I wish we were in Sri Lanka with the wicket turning the way It’s,” he said. “If there’s a bit of turn on the wicket consistently for the whole game, I think we’d utilise our skillset a lot better.”
Despite the challenges, Law remains optimistic about Nepal’s future. He believes that with continued investment, a strong domestic structure, and a focused mindset, Nepal can continue to punch above its weight and establish itself as a force in international cricket.
