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Nepal and Oman have successfully secured two of the three available spots for the T20 World Cup 2026 through the highly competitive Asia and East Asia-Pacific Qualifier.
Nepal and Oman qualify for T20 World Cup 2026
Their qualification was confirmed even before their direct clash in the Super Six stage, primarily due to earlier results, including the UAE’s crucial victory over Samoa. Now, the Muhammad Waseem-led UAE side is set to face Japan, with all remaining teams fiercely vying for the one final ticket to the World Cup.
The Super Six stage has proven to be fiercely contested, with five of the first six matches going down to the final over, a clear testament to how closely matched the competing teams are. Nepal, in particular, demonstrated exceptional resilience and nerve, winning two nail-biting encounters against the UAE and Qatar to cement their place at the World Cup. Remaining unbeaten during the group phase, Nepal carried over two important points into the Super Six, which significantly aided their qualification campaign.
One dramatic encounter highlighted Nepal's fighting spirit. In that match, Dipendra Singh Airee was famously hit for a six by Dhruv Parashar, which brought the UAE within striking distance of a victory. However, a spectacular catch by Sundeep Jora followed by crucial back-to-back run-outs ensured that Nepal was able to snatch a tense victory in the dying moments of the game.
Fight between UAE, Japan, Qatar for 20th spot
Nepal's thrilling form carried over into their match against Qatar, where they successfully defended a modest total of 148. In this gripping encounter, spin wizard Sandeep Lamichhane was the standout performer, delivering a match-winning spell by taking 5 wickets for just 18 runs. His superb bowling performance triggered a dramatic collapse, leaving Qatar struggling with only two wickets remaining and 10 runs still needed for victory.
Oman also comfortably secured their spot in the World Cup, having carried two points into the Super Six stage. They began by soundly defeating Qatar in their opening Super Six match. They then edged past the UAE in another tight finish, thanks to some crucial late hitting from Nadeem Khan, who smashed a four and a six off Muhammad Arfan to seal the thrilling victory with just two balls to spare.
Meanwhile, the UAE currently occupy the third and final qualification spot following a solid win against Samoa. They will now face Japan, a team eager to bounce back after suffering a narrow loss to Qatar. Unfortunately, Samoa, despite a strong showing in the initial group stage, has now been eliminated from World Cup contention. Qatar remain in the hunt, but to keep their World Cup hopes alive, they must win their upcoming match against Samoa and then rely on highly favourable net run rate scenarios.
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