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Nepal got off to a blistering start by stunning Singapore by eight wickets in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier Final held at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday.

Chasing the target of 146 runs, Nepal scored 147 runs in 16.3 overs losing two wickets.

Kushal Bhurtel scored 74 runs off 48 balls and captain Rohit Paudel scored unbeaten 35 runs off 24 balls. Similarly, Asif Sheikh contributed 26 runs off 27 balls.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Singapore made 145 runs losing all the wickets in allotted 20 overs.

Opener Rohan Rangarajan scored highest 46 runs off 30 balls for Singapore.

Likewise, Aryaveer Chaudhry successfully managed to score 37 runs off 26 balls.

Similarly, Manpreet Singh made 24 runs and Akshay Puri contributed unbeaten 13 runs while other players failed to score in double digits.

Abinash Bohara took three wickets for Nepal while Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC and Gulsan Jha claimed two wickets each.

Jhapa: The Mechi-Mahakali bicycle tour, aimed at promoting the tourism industry, started from Kakarvitta in Jhapa this morning. 

It was joined by 13 people from Makwanpur. Mechinagar’'s outgoing mayor, Bimal Acharya, and the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) represented by Ekraj Giri, bid farewell to the team. The journey, organized by the Makwanpur-based Himalayan Riders, includes the participation of retired civil service employees, teachers, journalists, and others.

On this occasion, the founding chair of the Society, Chetnath Acharya, stressed the need to promote cycling culture in the country, highlighting its positive impact on health and its environmental significance. 

Throughout the tour, the participants will explore various tourist destinations in Nepal, sharing their significance. The tour is expected to reach Mahakali in ten days, as stated by FNJ Makwanpur’s former chair, Bhanubhakta Acharya.

Two spots are up for grabs at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 when eight teams clash at the Asia Qualifier Final in Nepal.

Hosts Nepal will be joined by Bahrain, Hong Kong China, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore and United Arab Emirates at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier Final 2023 with two spots up for grabs at the showpiece event next year.

The eight teams will be split into two groups of four for the Asia Qualifier Final to take place from Oct 30 to Nov 5.

Group A comprises Nepal, Singapore, Oman, and Malaysia, and Group B includes UAE, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Kuwait.

All Group A matches will be played at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur while Group B matches will be played at Mulpani Cricket Stadium.

The top two teams in each group will secure a place in the high-stakes semi-finals on Nov 3 where the pair of winners will book a ticket to the USA and West Indies for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The two qualifiers will then meet in the Final of the Asia Qualifier on Nov 5 for a chance to win the tournament but with their spots at the main event already secure.

Nepal are well-placed to claim one of the two spots at the T20 World Cup next year with fervent home support sure to boost the team that surged into the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier earlier this year.

Recent qualifier tournament experience should only benefit the emerging Nepal outfit that is currently ranked 16th in the world in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.

The rising Nepal are the highest-ranked team heading into the Asia Qualifier Final, although little separates the eight teams with the UAE (17), Oman (20), Hong Kong, China (21), Malaysia (25), Kuwait (27), Bahrain (28) and Singapore (36) all close behind.

Nepal have more recently fine-tuned for the event with four near-flawless T20I victories against Hong Kong China and the UAE in a warm-up tri-series on home soil.

Oman also have the form to eye a strong run through the qualifier event after taking out the Gulf Cricket T20I Tournament last month when beating the UAE by five wickets in the final.

The UAE had topped the standings with four impressive victories from their five group matches but failed to contain Aqib Ilyas and Ayaan Khan in Oman’s chase in the decider.

But the Middle East powerhouse can turn to a proud recent history in the format which has included being part of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

Kuwait and Malaysia can also carry confidence into the Asia Qualifier Final after their recent success at the Asia Sub-Regional Qualifiers kept their hopes alive of progressing to the main event next year.

T20WC format and qualification

A total of 20 teams will compete for the big prize at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, with the top two at the Asia Qualifier Final among the last teams to snatch a spot. 

The United States and West Indies will appear at the event as hosts.

Australia, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka will be part of the tournament after finishing in the top-eight teams in the 2022 edition.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan qualified due to their position in the ICC Men's T20I Team Ranking at the end of the previous T20 World Cup. 

Since then Ireland, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Canada have booked their spots through their T20 World Cup regional qualifiers.

Two more teams will join the tournament through the Africa Qualifier Final to be held in Namibia from Nov 20 to Dec 1.

That leaves two Asia sides to help fill the remaining places and take their shot at T20 World Cup glory on the grand stage.

Fixtures

Oct 30

• UAE v Bahrain, 9:00 am, Mulpani Cricket Stadium
• Nepal v Singapore, 9:00 am, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
• Oman v Malaysia, 1:30 pm, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
• Hong Kong v Kuwait, 1:30 pm, Mulpani Cricket Stadium

Oct 31

• Singapore v Oman, 9:00 am, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
• Bahrain v Hong Kong, 9:00 am, Mulpani Cricket Stadium
• Malaysia v Nepal, 1:30 pm, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
• Kuwait v UAE, 1:30 pm, Mulpani Cricket Stadium

Nov 2

• Nepal v Oman, 9:00 am, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
• Hong Kong v UAE, 9:00 am, Mulpani Cricket Stadium
• Singapore v Malaysia, 1:30 pm, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
• Bahrain v Kuwait, 1:30 pm, Mulpani Cricket Stadium

Nov 3

• Semi-final 1: A1 v B2, 11:00 am, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
• Semi-final 2: B1 v A2, 11:00 am, Mulpani Cricket Stadium

Nov 5

• Final: winner semi-final 1 v winner semi-final 2, 11:00 am, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur

ICC

Kathmandu: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced the final squad for the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier Final, which will be held at Kirtipur and Mulpani Cricket Grounds starting from Monday. Sandeep Lamichhane has also been included in the squad.

Two weeks ago, Lamichhane announced through social media that he was withdrawing from the competition to spend time with his family. As a result, he was not part of the team for the triangular T20I series against Hong Kong and UAE. Nepal secured victories against both UAE and Hong Kong during the league stage of the triangular series, but they were defeated by UAE in the final by four wickets.

The ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier Final is scheduled to take place from Oct 13 to 20. According to CAN, the Nepali team includes Rohit Paudel (captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sundeep Zora, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Abinash Bohra, Pratish GC, Bibek Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Binod Bhandari.

Surya Tamang, Shyam (Mausam) Dhakal, Lokesh Bam, and Sagar Dhakal, who were part of the team that played in the T20I triangular series, were not included in the Qualifier Final squad.

The tournament has two groups where Group A comprises Nepal, Singapore, Oman, and Malaysia, and Group B includes UAE, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Kuwait. Nepal's first match will be against Singapore on Monday.

The two teams that advance to the final will have the opportunity to compete in the T20 World Cup next year in America and the West Indies.