Kuala Lumpur, Sept 2026 : Nepal secured their place in the 2027 ODI Asia Cup after defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 44 runs in the final of the ACC Men's Premier Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
The victory gave Nepal their second Premier Cup title and guaranteed them qualification for the 2027 Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in the middle of 2027.
Nepal, who also featured in the 2023 ODI Asia Cup, will now make their second appearance in the continental tournament. Their latest triumph was built around a superb century from opener Aasif Sheikh and a disciplined bowling effort that restricted the UAE despite several individual contributions.
Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal posted a formidable 313/9 in 50 overs. Aasif anchored the innings with an impressive 102 off 106 deliveries, hitting eight fours and four sixes.
Nepal made a strong start as Aasif and Arjun Kumal added 97 runs for the opening wicket. Kumal was eventually run out for 43, but Aasif continued to control the innings.
After Ishan Pandey was dismissed for 13, Aasif combined with Rohit Paudel to add another 68 runs for the third wicket. Paudel contributed a valuable 40 before departing.
With Nepal looking to finish strongly, Gulsan Jha provided the late acceleration with a blistering 52 off just 38 balls. His innings featured four sixes and three fours and helped Nepal push the total beyond the 300-run mark.
Basir Ahamad then added the finishing touches, smashing an unbeaten-looking quick contribution of 15 from four balls as Nepal reached a challenging total of 313.
The UAE's chase got off to a difficult start, with the side losing three wickets for just 56 runs in 8.3 overs. Although several batters produced useful scores, the early setbacks left UAE struggling to maintain the required scoring rate.
Rahul Chopra fought a lone battle with an unbeaten century, while Sohaib Khan and opener Tanish Suri both scored 52. UAE captain Harpreet Singh also contributed 33, but the side could not produce enough substantial partnerships to overhaul Nepal's total.
Nepal's bowlers maintained pressure throughout the chase, with Karan KC emerging as the standout performer. He claimed three wickets for 49 runs in nine overs, disrupting the UAE batting line-up at crucial stages.
Lalit Rajbanshi picked up two wickets, while Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee, Paudel, Jha and Ahamad claimed one wicket each.
The 44-run victory capped a strong campaign for Nepal and secured their return to the Asia Cup. Their qualification also adds another significant milestone to the country's growing presence in international cricket.
With the 2027 Asia Cup set to be hosted by Bangladesh, Nepal will now have another opportunity to compete against the leading cricketing nations in the region and build on their experience from the 2023 edition.
