Nepal qualify for Asia Cup 2027 after thrashing UAE by 44 runs for ACC Premier Cup title

Nepal secured the ACC Premier Cup trophy in its third edition with a 44-run victory against the United Arab Emirates at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This triumph punches Nepal's ticket to the 2027 ODI Asia Cup in Bangladesh, marking their second-ever qualification for the continental showcase. Their previous appearance also came on the back of defeating the UAE in the 2023 final, leaving the defending champions empty-handed this time around and out of the upcoming Asia Cup.

Nepal book Asia Cup 2027 berth

Opting to bat first after winning the coin toss, Nepal built a formidable 313 for nine in their 50 overs. The centerpiece of the innings was a stellar century from opener and wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh, who stroked 102 off 106 balls with eight boundaries and four sixes to notch his second career ODI hundred.

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Nepal down UAE to win ACC Premier Cup title

A late-innings burst from Gulshan Jha provided crucial momentum, as he smashed a 38-ball 52 featuring three fours and four sixes to record his sixth ODI half-century. Solid contributions throughout the order—including 43 from Arjun Kumal, 40 from captain Rohit Kumar Paudel, 18 from Dipendra Singh Airee, an undefeated 15 from Basir Ahmad, and 13 from Ishan Pandey—allowed Nepal's deep batting lineup to push past the 300-run mark.

Ibrar Ahmed spearheaded the UAE's bowling effort with a four-wicket haul, while Khuzema Tanveer chipped in with two scalps. Haider Ali and Abid Usmani also contributed to the breakthrough efforts, taking one wicket apiece to break up Nepal's momentum.

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Chasing a target of 314, the UAE fell 44 runs short of their goal, getting bowled out for 269 in 49.1 overs. Middle-order batter Rahul Chopra played a heroic anchor role, remaining undefeated on 100 off 105 deliveries (with three boundaries and four maximums), but lacked the lingering support needed to cross the finish line. Useful efforts from Shoaib Khan (52), Tanish Suri (42), Harpreet Singh (33), and Khuzema Tanveer (15) provided brief flickers of hope, though none of the stands lasted long enough to truly put Nepal on the back foot.

Nepal's attack mounted a coordinated effort to seal the win, spearheaded by Karan KC's three-wicket haul and supported by Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi's crucial double breakthrough. Single strikes from Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohit Kumar Paudel, and Gulshan Jha finished off the tail, officially punching Nepal's ticket to join Asia's top cricketing nations in 2027.