Nepal has qualified for the ICC T-20 World Cup

Nepal has been qualified for the ICC T-20 World Cup. After defeating UAE by eight wickets in the semi-final of the qualifying stage held on Friday at Moolpani Upper Cricket Ground in Kathmandu. Nepal confirmed its place in the World Cup to be jointly organized by America and West Indies next year. After winning the toss and batting, UAE gave Nepal a target of 135 runs. In reply batting, Nepal lost two wickets and crossed the target in 17.1 overs. Nepali players performed well in bowling, batting and fielding. 

Opener Asif Shaikh played a half-century innings in Nepal’s win. Asif scored 64 runs off 51 balls with seven fours and one six. In that sequence, he faced 39 balls and scored 50 runs with 6 fours and a six. In Nepal’s victory, openers Asif and Kushal Bhurtel along with Gulsan Jha and Rohit batted well. Captain Rohit scored an unbeaten 34 off 20 balls with two fours and two sixes. Nepal lost opener Bhurtel who scored 11 runs in eight balls as the first wicket. Nilans Keswani, who hit two fours, caught him out from captain Muhammad Wasim. As the second wicket, Nepal lost Gulson who scored 22 runs. Gulson, who came to the number three crease, scored 22 runs off 24 balls with three fours. When Basil Hamid bowled Gulsan, Nepal scored 67 runs in 9.3 overs. After this, Asif and Rohit at the crease ensured Nepal’s victory.

Oman has also been qualified for the World Cup by defeating Bahrain by 10 wickets in the other semi-final held on Friday. In next year’s World Cup, the ICC is inviting a maximum of 20 teams to compete, in which there will be 55 matches. The participating teams will be divided into five groups. World Cup, which will be held from June 4 to 30 but the schedule and group division has not decided. Nepal qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time in 2014.