Nepal played their first ever ODI series against the Netherlands in August 2018, drawing the two-match series 1–1.[3] Nepal and the United Arab Emirates also played an ODI match against each other later the same month, in the 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier, with the UAE winning by 78 runs.[4] On 1 January 2019, Nepal's head coach Jagat Tamata and captain Paras Khadka named a twenty-man preliminary squad for the tour.[5][6]
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) announced their squad without their regular captain Rohan Mustafa, as he was suspended for breaching the ECB's Player's Code of Conduct. Mohammad Naveed replaced him as the captain of the team for the series.[7][8]
Nepal won the ODI series 2–1, their first-ever ODI series win.[9] In the third match, Nepal's captain, Paras Khadka, scored the first ODI century by a batsman for Nepal.[10] Nepal also won the T20I series 2–1.[11]