Nepal Cricket Team Qualifies for 2027 Asia Cup. Image Credits: AFPNepal cricket team decimated regional rivals UAE in a one-sided final of the 2026 ACC Men’s Premier Cup. A century from opening batter Aasif Sheikh helped Nepal wallop the UAE side by 44 runs at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, September 12.It is worth noting that with Nepal’s comprehensive outcome, Sandeep Lamichhane and co. have also qualified for the 2027 Men’s Asia Cup, set to be hosted by Bangladesh next year. Nepal becomes final team to qualify for Asia Cup 2027Nepal has become the sixth and final team to qualify for the 2027 Asia Cup next year. They qualified for the premier continent event by winning the 2026 ACC Men’s Premier Cup in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on Saturday, September 12.Also Read- Kushal Bhurtel Hits Six Sixes In An Over; Joins Legendary List With Special FeatIt is worth noting that the ACC Men’s Premier Cup itself is considered to be the final stage of qualification for the Asia Cup.Nepal also won the previous ODI edition of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup back in May 2023 to qualify for the 2023 Men’s ODI Asia Cup later that year in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Which teams have already qualified for Asia Cup 2027 in BangladeshThe Asia Cup 2027 is scheduled to be a six-team event, much like the previous edition of an ODI Asia Cup that was played out in Sri Lanka and Pakistan back in 2023. Set to be played in June and July next year, ICC full-member nations like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, defending champions India and hosts Bangladesh earned direct qualifications for the premier continental event. Nepal became the sixth and final team to qualify for the same by winning the 2026 ACC Men’s Premier Cup, defeating UAE in the final. Notably, the 2026 Premier Cup was played between 10 participants in Malaysia between August 30 and September 12.The teams were Nepal, UAE, hosts Malaysia, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.Nepal’s history in Asia CupsWith Nepal qualifying for the 2027 Asia Cup next year, the occasion will mark Nepal’s only second-ever appearance in an Asia Cup event.Back in 2023, the Nepal cricket team made its Asia Cup debut by qualifying for the 2023 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Incidentally, Nepal also qualified for its maiden Asia Cup in 2023 by lifting the 2023 Men’s Premier Cup earlier that year. Yet to play a T20 Asia Cup, both of Nepal’s Asia Cup appearances have come in the ODI format, in 2023 and 2027.In the 2023 event, the team was clubbed in Group A alongside India and tournament co-hosts Pakistan. In the opening match of the competition, Nepal took on Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on August 30.However, centuries from Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed and a four-wicket haul from Shadab Khan steamrolled Nepal by 238 runs in the game.A few days later, Nepal met Team India in Kandy in their final Group A match. Batting first, Nepal bundled out for just 230, before Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill ensured the Indian team romped home with a 10-wicket margin (DLS method).Losing both matches with convincing margins, the Nepal team capped its maiden Asia Cup appearance without a single win. Having grown into a stronger team with a more passionate fanbase since then, Nepal will be hoping for an improved performance in next year’s Asia Cup 2027.Also Read- Mohammed Shami’s Case for One Final India Comeback
