18 October : Canberra:

Nepal has secured the ICC T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific Qualifier title after a commanding 124-run victory against Samoa in the final Super Six match held on Friday at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman.

Having already confirmed their place in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with two matches to spare, Nepal capped off their campaign in style, finishing unbeaten at the top of the Super Six table with 10 points from five matches.

Batting first after Samoa opted to field, Nepal produced a powerful display with the bat, posting 211 for 4 in 20 overs.

• Aasif Sheikh led the charge with a brisk 69 off 41 balls, featuring seven fours and four sixes.

• Dipendra Singh Airee continued his fine form, adding 53 runs from 33 deliveries, including four sixes.

• Lokesh Bam and captain Rohit Paudel remained unbeaten on 39 and 21 runs respectively, ensuring a strong finish.

In reply, Samoa struggled against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack and could manage only 87 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.

• Lalit Rajbanshi was the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for just 13 runs, including one maiden over.

• Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Rohit Paudel chipped in with one wicket each.

For Samoa, Sean Solia top-scored with 40 runs, while Benjamin Mailata contributed 11. No other batter reached double figures.

With this victory, Nepal topped the table ahead of Oman (8 points) and UAE (6 points)—both of whom also qualified for the upcoming World Cup. Qatar, Japan, and Samoa were eliminated from contention. Samoa finished winless in the Super Six stage.

Nepal’s dominant performance throughout the tournament not only secured them the regional title but also reaffirmed their growing strength in world cricket ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.