Nepal Secures Spot in Asia Cup 2024 After Impressive ACC Premier Cup Performance

Nepal's cricket team has successfully qualified for the Asia Cup 2024, marking a significant achievement in their cricketing journey. Following a strong performance in the ACC Premier Cup, where they showcased impressive batting and bowling skills, Nepal is set to compete against renowned teams like India and Pakistan. Aasif Sheikh's century and Sandeep Lamichhane's outstanding bowling were key highlights of their qualification. This article delves into their journey and what lies ahead for the team in the upcoming tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 12, 2026, 20:24 IST

Nepal's Cricketing Ascent

Nepal has made significant strides in the Asian cricket scene by qualifying for the upcoming Asia Cup, where they will have the opportunity to compete against established teams like India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. This marks their second participation in the Asia Cup, following their inaugural appearance in the 2023 tournament held in Sri Lanka.

Qualification Journey: ACC Premier Cup Final

The team secured their spot in the prestigious tournament by reaching the final of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup. In the decisive match against the UAE at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Nepal chose to bat first.

Outstanding Batting Performance

Aasif Sheikh played a pivotal role in setting a strong total for Nepal, scoring an impressive 102 runs off 106 balls. He received solid backing from Rohit Paudel, who contributed 40 runs, and Gulshan Jha, who added 52 runs. Despite Ibrar Ahmad's commendable bowling performance for the UAE, with figures of 4 wickets for 62 runs, Nepal managed to post a challenging score of 313 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.

UAE's Struggle in the Chase

The UAE began their innings with enthusiasm, highlighted by Tanish Suri's quickfire 42 runs off 28 balls. However, the innings faltered as Karan KC and Lalit Rajbanshi took crucial wickets, finishing with figures of 3/49 and 2/43, respectively. Despite a valiant unbeaten century from Rahul Chopra, the UAE fell short by 44 runs.

Key Players

Sandeep Lamichhane was recognized as the Player of the Series for his remarkable achievement of taking 17 wickets, while Aasif Sheikh was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding century.