“Kathmandu: Nepal has qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the United States and the West Indies next year. Nepal secured a spot in the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier semi-final by defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a magnificent win, ten years after their last T20 World Cup qualification.”

“In the semi-final match held at Mulpani Ground on Friday, Nepal achieved a remarkable victory by taking 8 wickets against the UAE. Nepal successfully chased UAE’s target of 135 runs in 17.1 overs. Asif Sheikh played a key role in Nepal’s victory by scoring a half-century, making 63 runs off 50 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Rohit Paudel contributed with 35 runs off 20 balls.”

“Opener Kushal Bhurtel scored 11 runs before getting out in the third over, caught by Mohammed Waseem on the last ball of the over. Kushal had hit 2 fours before his dismissal. Gulshan Jha was bowled by Basil Hamid for 22 runs in the 10th over. He hit 3 fours before getting out.”

“Before that, in the morning on Friday, UAE had posted a total of 134 runs in 19 overs, losing 9 wickets. For UAE, Vriitya Aravind scored a half-century, making 64 runs off 51 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. Nepal took their third wicket when Sandeep Lamichhane dismissed Asif Khan for 13 runs in the 10th over. Kushal Malla claimed the fourth wicket for Nepal in the 14th over, getting Alishan Sharafu out for 16 runs.”

“Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel took five wickets, including the key wicket of Ali Nasir, who scored 4 runs before being caught by Kushal Bhurtel. At that time, UAE had reached 100 runs in 15.5 overs. Sandeep Lamichhane took the last wicket in the 18th over. After that, Basil Hamid was caught by Sandeep for just 1 run in the same over. Nepal’s Kushal Malla took 3 wickets in the bowling department, claiming 2 wickets in the final over. Kushal took 3 overs to spend 11 runs. Sandeep Lamichhane took 2 wickets, with 1 maiden over and conceded just 14 runs in 4 overs. Sandeep bowled 14 dot balls.”