Nepal's Women's Cricket Team Eyes Qualification for T20 World Cup 2026
Nepal's Ambitious Journey to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026
Kathmandu, December 23: The newly appointed head coach of Nepal's women's cricket team, Harshal Jayant Pathak, has expressed optimism about their chances in the upcoming qualifiers for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
During a recent media session, Pathak, who previously coached Thailand's women's cricket team, highlighted the team's potential. He stated, “We have a strong opportunity to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026. Playing at home is a significant advantage, and our players have prior experience against these teams. I've noticed considerable improvement in the team compared to three years ago, with a different approach and new players.”
Pathak also emphasized the support from local fans, saying, “The passion of Nepali supporters is incredible, and it motivates our players immensely.” This interaction took place at the Mulpani Cricket Ground, which will host the qualifiers starting January 18.
The Mulpani grounds are set to host Nepal's largest ICC tournament to date. 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, leading their women's team.
Pathak has previously worked with Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and guided the Thailand women's team to their first T20 World Cup in 2020. Notably, during the 2020 T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, Thailand eliminated Nepal's chances, defeating them by 57 runs in the Asia Qualifier.
“The upcoming qualifiers are a fantastic opportunity for our women players to showcase their skills and prove their worth. My experience with the Thailand team has equipped me with insights into how to approach such tournaments,” Pathak remarked.
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has released the match schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, which will feature ten nations. Nepal is placed in Group 'B' alongside Scotland, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Zimbabwe.
The tournament is scheduled from January 14 to February 1, with Group 'A' consisting of Bangladesh, Namibia, the United States, and Papua New Guinea. Matches will take place at the Mulpani Cricket Ground and the TU International Cricket Ground in Kathmandu. Nepal's first match will be against Thailand on January 18 at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, with the leading four teams from there qualifying for the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026.