UAE target back-to-back T20 World Cup appearances at Qualifier in Nepal

Finalists in eight-team tournament in Kathmandu will progress to Caribbean and US in 2024

UAE batter Basil Hameed in action. Peter Della Penna / Cricket Scotland

The UAE will be bidding to make it to successive World Cups for the first time when they play at the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in Kathmandu.

The two finalists in the eight-team event will advance to play at the main event in the West Indies and US in June 2024.

Expansion

For the first time, the T20 World Cup will involve 20 teams, 16 of which have already been decided. As hosts, the West Indies and USA took the first two spots.

Then the top eight teams in the last 20-over World Cup, in Australia 2022, were guaranteed places.

That is defending champions England, Australia, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan qualified as the next two highest-ranked sides before 14 November 2022.

Regional qualifying

The remaining eight places are being decided by regional tournaments. Papua New Guinea advanced from East-Asia Pacific qualifying. Canada were the lone side to progress from the Americas event.

Ireland and Scotland made it from Europe. The two Asia sides will be decided in Kathmandu, with the African qualifier taking place next month.

Players to watch

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  Dipendra Singh Airee - Nepal: Set a record that might never be broken when he hit the fastest T20I half century in just nine balls against Mongolia in the Asian Games last month. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Kushal Malla - Nepal: Capable of destruction with the bat, but also a handy option with his left arm spin as he showed against the UAE in the tri-nations series preceding the Qualifier. Getty Images

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  Basil Hameed - UAE: Back in Mulpani, where he relaunched his UAE career earlier this year, and he clearly loves the ground where the national team will be based for their group matches. Subas Humagain for The National

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  Mohammed Jawadullah - UAE: Learnt cricket while throwing stones in his village in Pakistan. Came to the UAE to work as an electrician. Now he is a full-time pro cricketer and highly regarded left-armer. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Aqib Ilyas - Oman: The Muscat-raised all-rounder is multi-skilled. One of the most talented batters in the competition and can bowl either leg or off spin depending on what suits the situation. AFP

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  Babar Hayat - Hong Kong: Broad-shouldered batter is in good nick, having struck 66, then 60 not out in just 20, against the UAE in the tri-series which preceded the Qualifier. Courtesy ACC

Groups

The UAE will play their group matches in Mulpani, which is the smaller of two international cricket grounds in Nepal’s capital city.

They will be joined by Kuwait, Bahrain and Hong Kong. Although the national team are the highest-ranked side in their group, they have lost to each of their opponents in T20 cricket in recent times.

In the other group, Nepal and Oman are favourites to make it out of a group that also includes Singapore and Malaysia. Their matches will be played at Tribhuvan University.

UAE squad

Muhammad Waseem (captain), Aayan Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Khalid Shah, Nilansh Keswani, Sanchit Sharma, Mohammed Jawadullah, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan

UAE fixtures

Monday, October 30 UAE v Bahrain

Tuesday, October 31 UAE v Kuwait

Thursday, November 2 UAE v Hong Kong

Friday. November 3 Semi-final

Sunday, November 5 final

Broadcast

Matches will be streamed live for free on icc.tv.