The stage is set for cricket enthusiasts as eight formidable teams clash at the Asia Qualifier Final in Nepal, with two coveted spots at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 up for grabs. Hosted by Nepal, this event promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with teams from Bahrain, Hong Kong China, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates vying for a chance at the prestigious T20 World Cup.
The Format
The eight participating teams will be divided into two groups of four for the Asia Qualifier Final. This tournament is scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 5, 2023. The top two teams from each group will secure their places in the high-stakes semi-finals on November 3, with the winners earning a ticket to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The Contenders
Nepal, as the host nation, has a unique advantage with the passionate home crowd supporting them. Their recent performance in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier has bolstered their confidence. Currently ranked 16th in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings, Nepal is a team to watch.
The competition is intense, with little separating the teams in the rankings. UAE (17), Oman (20), Hong Kong, China (21), Malaysia (25), Kuwait (27), Bahrain (28), and Singapore (36) are all formidable opponents.
Nepal and Oman, in particular, have demonstrated their capabilities in the run-up to this event. Nepal's impressive T20I victories in a warm-up tri-series at home showcased their form, while Oman's recent triumph in the Gulf Cricket T20I Tournament proves their potential.
The Groups
The teams are divided into two groups for the Asia Qualifier Final:
Group A
Malaysia
Nepal
Oman
Singapore
All Group A matches will be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.
Group B
Bahrain
Hong Kong, China
Kuwait
United Arab Emirates
All Group B matches will be held at the Mulpani Cricket Stadium.
The Road to ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
A total of 20 teams will compete for the ultimate prize at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The top two teams from the Asia Qualifier Final will join the likes of the United States and West Indies as hosts.
Other teams already confirmed for the tournament include Australia, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, who finished in the top eight in the 2022 edition. Bangladesh and Afghanistan qualified based on their ICC Men's T20I Team Ranking.
Ireland, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, and Canada have secured their spots through regional qualifiers. Two more teams will emerge from the Africa Qualifier Final, taking place in Namibia from November 20 to December 1.
This leaves two spots for Asia sides to shine on the grand stage of the T20 World Cup.
Fixtures
The tournament fixtures are as follows:
30 October
United Arab Emirates vs. Bahrain, 9:00 (local), Mulpani Cricket Stadium
Nepal vs. Singapore, 9:00 (local), Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Oman vs. Malaysia, 13:30 (local), Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Hong Kong, China vs. Kuwait, 13:30 (local), Mulpani Cricket Stadium
31 October
Singapore vs. Oman, 09:00 (local), Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Bahrain vs. Hong Kong, China, 09:00 (local), Mulpani Cricket Stadium
Malaysia vs. Nepal, 13:30 (local), Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Kuwait vs. United Arab Emirates, 13:30 (local), Mulpani Cricket Stadium
2 November
Nepal vs. Oman, 09:00 (local), Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Hong Kong, China vs. United Arab Emirates, 09:00 (local), Mulpani Cricket Stadium
Singapore vs. Malaysia, 13:30 (local), Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Bahrain vs. Kuwait, 13:30 (local), Mulpani Cricket Stadium
3 November
Semi-final 1: A1 vs. B2, 11:00 (local), Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Semi-final 2: B1 vs. A2, 11:00 (local), Mulpani Cricket Stadium
5 November
Final: Winner of semi-final 1 vs. winner of semi-final 2, 11:00 (local), Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Squads
Here are the squads for the participating teams:
Bahrain
Umer Iimtiaz (c), Abdul Majid Abbasi, Imran Ali Butt, Sohail Ahmed, Haider Ali, Imran Javed Anwer, Junaid Aziz, Rizwan Butt, Ali Dawood, Ahmer Bin Naser, Sarfraz Ali, Yasser Nazeer, Sathaiyah Veerapathiran, Sachin Kumar, Sai Sarthak
Kuwait
Mohamed Aslam (c), Ali Zaheer, Usmangani Ibrahim, Bilal Tahir, Yasin Ishak, Ravija Sandaruwan, Meet Bhavsar, Shiraz Khan, Parvindar Kumar, Mirza Ahmed, Sayed Monib, Nimish Lathief, Clinto Velookkaran Anto, Mohamed Shafeeq Manakkadavath, Ilyas Ahmed
Malaysia
Ahmad Faiz Mohammad Noor, Virandeep Singh, Syed Aziz Syed Mubarak, Vijay Unni Suresh Unni, Muhammad Amir Azim Abd Shukor, Rizwan Haider, Khizar Hayat Durrani, Ainool Hafizs Md Yatim, Pavandeep Singh Jagjit Singh, Ahmad Zubaidi Zulkifle, Syazrul Ezat Idrus, Haiqal Mohd Khair, Sharvin Muniyandy, Muhammad Aiman Zaquan Muhammad Ridzuan, Muhammad Fitri Mohd Sham
Nepal
Rohit Kumar Paudel, Mahamad Asif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Binod Bhandari, Bibek Kumar Yadav, Abinash Bohara (Reserves: Lokesh Bahadur Bam, Surya Tamang, Shyam Dhakal, Sagar Dhakal)
Oman
Zeeshan Maqsood, Aaqib Ilyas Sulheri, Kashyapkumar Prajapati, Shoaib Khan, Ayaan Mohammed Khan, Muhammad Nadeem, Muhammad Naseem, Bilal Khan, Ahmad Fayyaz Butt, Kaleemullah, Shakeel Ahmad, Mehran Khan, Prathik Athavale, Sandeep Goud Shreemantula, Siddharth Prasad Bukkapatnam
Singapore
Aritra Dutta (c), Rohan Rengarajan, Surendran Chandramohan, Anish Paraam, Manpreet Singh, Janak Prakash, Akshay Roopak Puri, Thilip Omamdurai Thilappan, Ramesh Kalimuthu, Anantha Krishna, Utsav Rakshit, Aaryan Russell Menon, Amartya Kaul, Aryaveer Chaudhary, Harsha Bharadwaj
United Arab Emirates
Muhammad Waseem, Aryansh Sharma, Alishan Sharafu, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Asif Khan, Aayan Khan, Ali Naseer, Karthik Meiyappan, Sanchit Sharma, Zahoor Khan, Muhammad Jawadullah, Nilansh Keswani, Khalid Shah, Vriitya Aravind
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When and where will the Asia Qualifier Final take place?
- The Asia Qualifier Final will be held in Nepal from October 30 to November 5, 2023.
2. How many teams will qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 from this event?
- Two teams will secure their spots in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
3. Who are the favorites to win the Asia Qualifier Final?
- Nepal, Oman, and the UAE are among the strong contenders, but it's a closely contested tournament.
4. Which teams are already confirmed for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024?
- Teams like Australia, England, India, and others are confirmed for the T20 World Cup.
5. Where can I watch the live streaming of the matches?
- You can watch the matches live on our website Tutorial To.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 awaits the emergence of two worthy teams from the Asia Qualifier Final. With intense competition and passionate cricketing nations in the mix, this event promises exhilarating matches and unforgettable moments. Don't miss the live streaming on Tutorial To and stay tuned for cricket at its finest.