- Nepal will host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-Off from December 4 to 21, featuring eight competing teams.
- The top four finishers will advance to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, seeking spots in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
- Confirmed participants include Nepal, Canada, UAE, Italy, Uganda, and Jersey, with final slots to be determined through upcoming matches.
- The tournament has forced a rescheduling of the Nepal-India A series, with new dates being coordinated with the BCCI.
Kathmandu: Nepal will host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-Off from December 4 to 21, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced.
Eight teams will compete in the tournament for four places in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, the next stage in the race to reach the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The eight-team line-up includes the four lowest-ranked teams in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 and the top two teams each from Challenge League A and Challenge League B.
Nepal, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to enter the play-off from League 2. Italy and Uganda have secured their places from Challenge League B, while Jersey has qualified from Challenge League A. Kuwait is also in contention for a place from Challenge League A, though its qualification has yet to be officially confirmed. The remaining slots will be finalized following the conclusion of outstanding matches in the respective competitions.
The top four teams in the play-off will advance to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The 2027 World Cup will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
For Nepal, the tournament provides a crucial opportunity to advance to the next qualifying round on home soil. The national team will need to finish among the top four to keep its hopes of reaching the World Cup alive.
Nepal-India A Series Schedule to Change
Hosting the play-off will also impact Nepal’s planned series against India A, which was originally scheduled for December 9, 11, and 13.
Because these dates fall directly within the play-off period, the original schedule will be revised. CAN announced that new dates will be determined through discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and will be published once an agreement is reached.
The adjustments will require close coordination between the two boards as Nepal prepares for both the World Cup qualification tournament and the India A series.
