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The fairytale Nepal National Cricket Team has been writing for years and has just got another chapter. The team that took cricket fans in awe during the 2026 T20 World Cup has secured its place in the next Men's ODI Asia Cup 2027.
The Nepal cricket team has officially confirmed a place in the multi-nation tournament. Alongside the India National Cricket Team, Pakistan National Cricket Team, Sri Lanka National Cricket Team, Afghanistan National Cricket Team, and Bangladesh National Cricket Team, Nepal will be in the race to claim the prestigious title.
Nepal qualified for the 2027 Men's Asia Cup, defeating UAE.
On the afternoon of September 12, the inclusion of Nepal in the tournament has been officially confirmed after a 44-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
List of all 6 teams to play in the 2027 Men's ODI Asia Cup:
1. India
2. Pakistan
3. Sri Lanka
4. Afghanistan
5. Bangladesh
6. Nepal
Nepal defeated UAE to qualify for the 2027 Men's Asia Cup
Nepal defeated the UAE cricket team by a big margin to cement their place in the tournament. Nepal posted 313 for nine after winning the toss and electing to bat in the ACC Premier Cup final on Saturday at the Bayuemas Oval in Malaysia.
UAE was in contention pretty much because of Rahul Chopra, who scored a century in the run chase. But Chopra's century went in vain as the UAE cricket team failed to produce any significant partnerships throughout their run chase. While Chopra remained firm on one side of the track, the other side witnessed arrivals and departures.
UAE lost the match despite the century of Rahul Chopra
Apart from Rahul Chopra's unbeaten century, Tanish Suri made 42 and captain Harpreet Bhatia contributed with a 33-run knock in the run chase. The massive differences between the top three scorers are clear indications of why UAE tried, but could not reach the boundary line against Nepal in the final match of the tournament.
Credit goes to the Nepal bowlers for protecting their total. Karan KC was their most successful bowler in the match, taking 3 wickets, while Lalit Rajbanshi took a brace and one wicket each for Sandeep Lamichhane, Rohit Paudel, Gulshan Jha, Basir Ahmad and Dipendra Singh Airee.
The century of Aasif Sheikh actually defined the final match
With the bat for Nepal, it was Aasif Sheikh who laid the foundation stone to secure the total over the 300-run mark, scoring 102 from 106 balls with eight fours and four sixes. It was his second century for the national side in international cricket. His 97-run partnership with Arjun Kumal was crucial for the team.
Through multiple significant partnerships, Nepal went on to set the target. In the first innings, amid the batters' eye-catching performances, UAE's Ibrar Ahmed took four wickets, while Khuzama Bin Tanvir claimed two, and one wicket each for Haider Ali and Adib Usmani.
It was the second time they defeated UAE in the Premier Cup. In 2023, UAE was defeated by Nepal.
