Cricket Kitchen

Why Nepal Missed Out on the 2025 Asia Cup?

April 29, 2025

After featuring in the 2023 edition, Nepal will not be playing in the 2025 Asia Cup. Instead, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong—all associate nations—have secured their places in the tournament. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided to expand the number of participating teams from six to eight, starting from this edition, benefiting countries like Oman and Hong Kong.

Nepal’s exclusion is directly linked to its performance in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2024, held in Oman. Although Nepal topped its group and advanced to the semifinals, the team lost by 6 wickets to UAE in the semifinals and then suffered another defeat to Hong Kong by 4 wickets in the third-place match. As a result, Nepal finished fourth in the 10-team tournament—missing out on the Asia Cup spot which was awarded to the top three teams.

The upcoming Asia Cup 2025, to be held in Sri Lanka and UAE, will be played in the T20 format, unlike the 2023 edition which was played in the ODI format. In the 2023 tournament, Nepal had made its historic debut, placed in a high-profile group with India and Pakistan. Despite being a proud moment, Nepal suffered heavy defeats in both matches—losing to India by 10 wickets and to Pakistan by a massive 238 runs.

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Nepal’s absence from the 2025 Asia Cup, scheduled for September, is seen as a significant setback. The tournament is regarded as a valuable preparation platform for teams aiming for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. While Nepal’s regional rivals gain international exposure through the Asia Cup, Nepal is left facing a double blow—missing both the competition and the crucial experience that comes with it.

In previous editions, only the champion of the ACC Premier Cup earned a spot in the Asia Cup. However, starting this cycle, the ACC revised its qualification rules, now allowing the top three finishers to participate—making Nepal’s fourth-place finish all the more heartbreaking.