Nepal's Women's Cricket Team Eyes ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Qualification
Coach's Optimism for Team's Future
Harshal Jayant Pathak, the newly appointed head coach of Nepal's women's cricket team, believes the squad has a strong chance of qualifying for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. During a recent media session, Pathak, who previously coached Thailand's women's team, expressed his confidence in the team's development.
"I see a very promising opportunity for us to qualify for the women's T20 World Cup 2026. One key factor is that we will be competing in our home conditions. Additionally, the players have prior experience against these teams, and I can certainly observe significant improvements compared to three years ago. The team now features different players with a fresh approach," he stated.
"I am quite optimistic about our chances, especially with the support from home. The Nepali fans are incredibly passionate about cricket and their encouragement is truly uplifting," Pathak remarked during the interaction at Mulpani Cricket Ground, the venue for the qualifiers starting January 18 next year.
Pathak's Coaching Background
The Mulpani grounds in Kathmandu will host the largest ICC tournament ever held in Nepal. With over 20 years of coaching experience in first-class and state-level cricket in India, Pathak joined the Cricket Association of Thailand (CAT) in November 2018 to lead the women's team.
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Details of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has released the match schedule for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, which will take place in Nepal with participation from ten nations.
As per the schedule, Nepal is in Group 'B', marking their first entry into the global qualifiers after advancing through the World Cup Asia qualifiers. Group B includes Scotland, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Zimbabwe, alongside Nepal.
The tournament is set to run from January 14 to February 1.
Group 'A' consists of Bangladesh, Namibia, the United States, and Papua New Guinea.
CAN has confirmed that matches will be held at both the Mulpani Cricket Ground and the TU International Cricket Ground in Kathmandu. Nepal's opening match will be against Thailand on January 18 at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground.
Path to Qualification
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage. The four teams that perform best in the Super Six will qualify for the Women's T20 World Cup in 2026.