Nepal qualifies for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier for the first time

KATHMANDU: Nepal has secured a spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier for the first time by defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by five wickets.

Nepal achieved this milestone by finishing in the top two of the Super-3 stage. Nepal will now compete in the Global Qualifier later this year, where a total of 10 teams, including Nepal, will participate.

The top four teams from the Global Qualifier will earn their place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in England. The match, held at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Thailand, saw UAE batting first after winning the toss. They scored 114 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allocated 20 overs.

Chasing the target of 115 runs, Nepal reached it in 19.3 overs with five wickets remaining. Captain Indu Barma led the chase with an unbeaten 30 runs, while Rubina Chhetri scored 23, Samjhana Khadka added 21, Puja Mahato contributed 13, Rajmati Airee made 8, and Rubi Podar remained not out with 6 runs.

In the bowling department for the UAE, Michelle Botha, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, and captain Esha Oza took one wicket each.

For UAE’s innings, captain Esha Oza top-scored with 39 runs, followed by Teertha Satish with 21, Hina Hotchandani with 20, and Lavanya Keny with 12 runs.In Nepal’s bowling attack, Manisha Upadhyay shone with four wickets, while Kabita Kunwar claimed two, and Rajmati Airee took one wicket.

Earlier, in the first match of the Super-3 stage, Thailand secured its spot in the Global Qualifier by defeating UAE by 54 runs. Nepal is set to face Thailand in the final match of the Super-3 on Tuesday.