Ian Harvey appointed Nepal men’s bowling consultant ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup

Former Australia seamer Ian Harvey has been appointed as Nepal men’s bowling consultant coach as the side ramps up preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Harvey will work closely with fellow Australian Stuart Law, who is currently serving as Nepal’s head coach. The appointment adds significant international experience to Nepal’s coaching setup as the team looks to build on its recent exposure at global tournaments.

Now 53, Harvey brings with him a wealth of coaching and playing experience. He has previously coached Gloucestershire, a county he also represented as an overseas professional during his playing career. At the international level, Harvey featured in 73 One-Day Internationals for Australia, picking up 85 wickets while also contributing 715 runs as a lower-order all-rounder.

A member of the Australia squad that lifted the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Harvey carved out a reputation as a dependable all-rounder known for his tactical awareness and adaptability. His bowling was defined by clever variations, including yorkers and an array of slower deliveries, while his power-hitting ability added depth to the batting order.

Harvey was also an early standout in the shortest format of the game. Across 54 T20 matches, he claimed 52 wickets and amassed 1,470 runs, underlining his impact as a genuine T20 all-rounder. In 2003, he became the first player to score a century in England’s newly-introduced Twenty20 Cup, marking a historic moment in the format’s evolution.

His influence in franchise cricket continued in 2007, when he was named Player of the Tournament in the inaugural edition of the Indian Cricket League (ICL), further cementing his credentials as a T20 specialist.

Nepal will begin their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against England on February 8 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. All of Nepal’s group-stage fixtures are scheduled to be played at the same venue.

At the 2024 T20 World Cup, Nepal featured in four matches and, while they did not register a win, they produced competitive performances against South Africa and Bangladesh, pushing both sides close.