The venue, which held its first international match in 2010, is anticipated to provide better batting conditions compared to its New York counterpart, where discussions have revolved around the challenging pitch. Sri Lanka will be particularly pleased to return to the ground where they have previously played, albeit many years ago, giving them an edge over their opponents Nepal.
The Sri Lankan batting lineup has been the team's weak point, and with their survival hinging on this match, the 2014 champions are hopeful that the change in venue will also change their luck. However, Sri Lanka's bowling coach Aqib Javed is confident that their strong bowling attack can secure a victory against Nepal. Javed, a former Pakistan pace bowler, commended right-arm pacer Nuwan Thushara for his impressive four-wicket performance in Sri Lanka's recent match against Bangladesh.
The island nation has received significant support during their matches in the US, while their opponents have also enjoyed passionate backing from their fans. Javed, who previously coached the United Arab Emirates, expressed surprise at the cricket fervor in Nepal, emphasizing the importance of passion in achieving success. Nepal captain Rohit Paudel views a win against Sri Lanka as a significant gesture to their supporters who turned out in large numbers for the team's initial match against the Netherlands.
Sri Lanka is facing a must-win situation, and Nepal's young skipper sees an opportunity to capitalize on their opponent's predicament. Pitch and weather conditions will play a role in the tournament, with the possibility of rain and thunderstorms impacting the match proceedings. The teams have never played against each other before in any game format. Sri Lanka has had a rough start to the tournament, with three losses in their last five T20 matches, while Nepal will rely on their supporters and strong bowling to secure their first win.
Sri Lanka may consider fielding an additional seamer in place of one of their spin-bowling all-rounders due to pitch and weather conditions. Nepal will miss star leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane's services as he is in the West Indies and will only join the squad for their last two group games in Saint Vincent.
