Nepal Seal Asia Cup 2027 Spot With 44-Run Premier Cup Final Win

Nepal beat the United Arab Emirates by 44 runs in the ACC Men's Premier Cup final at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, taking the title and the single qualifying place it carries for the Asia Cup 2027. Aasif Sheikh made 102 from 106 balls. Nepal closed on 313 for 9. UAE were bowled out for 269 in 49.1 overs.

This is the second time Nepal have qualified for the Asia Cup. They first appeared at the tournament in 2023 in Sri Lanka, having come through the Premier Cup on that occasion too. The 2027 edition is scheduled for Bangladesh around the middle of the year and will be played in the 50-over format, so Nepal will meet full members over the same distance they played here.

Sheikh and Jha build 313

Nepal batted first. Sheikh and Arjun Kumal opened with 97 before Kumal was run out for 43. Sheikh carried on to his hundred, hitting eight fours and four sixes across 106 deliveries. Captain Rohit Paudel made 40.

The late acceleration came from Gulsan Jha, who struck 52 from 38 balls with four sixes and three fours. Ibrar Ahmad was the pick of the UAE attack with 4 for 62. Khuzema Tanveer took two. Nepal lost nine wickets getting to 313, which tells you how hard they went at the back end.

Chopra's hundred not enough

UAE were 56 for 3 inside nine overs. Rahul Chopra then held the innings together from one end. He finished unbeaten on 100 from 105 balls with three fours and four sixes, still at the crease when the last wicket fell. Sohaib Khan made 52 from 57 balls and Tanish Suri 42 from 28. Harpreet Singh, the captain, added 33 from 41.

Karan KC was the pick of the Nepal bowlers with 3 for 49 from nine overs. Lalit Rajbanshi bowled his ten for 43 and two wickets. Sandeep Lamichhane went for 53 and took one. Dipendra Singh Airee, Paudel and Jha each claimed a wicket as the innings closed with five balls unused.

The Premier Cup route to Bangladesh

The Premier Cup is the Asian Cricket Council's qualifying event for its senior men's tournament, and only the winner goes through. That makes the final a one-match shootout for a seat at the top table. UAE reached the last day and leave Kuala Lumpur with nothing. Nepal have now come through it twice.

• Nepal 313 for 9 in 50 overs: Aasif Sheikh 102, Gulsan Jha 52, Arjun Kumal 43, Rohit Paudel 40
• United Arab Emirates 269 all out in 49.1 overs: Rahul Chopra 100 not out, Sohaib Khan 52, Tanish Suri 42, Harpreet Singh 33
• Nepal bowling: Karan KC 3 for 49, Lalit Rajbanshi 2 for 43, Sandeep Lamichhane 1 for 53
• Player of the Match: Aasif Sheikh
• Player of the Series: Sandeep Lamichhane, 17 wickets

Lamichhane leads the wicket count

Lamichhane took 17 wickets across the tournament and was named Player of the Series. Sheikh took the match award for his century. Karan KC, Rajbanshi and Jha all finished the final with wickets beside their names.

Nepal's next assignment is the men's cricket tournament at the Asian Games in Japan, where they are one of ten teams from 24 September. The Asia Cup in Bangladesh follows in 2027. Both put them in draws alongside full members.