UAE seal final spot for ’26 T20 World Cup with win over Japan

The UAE have clinched the final qualification berth for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by securing a top-three finish at the ongoing Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Oman.

With their victory over Japan on Thursday, UAE have joined Nepal and hosts Oman to complete the 20-team lineup for next year’s global tournament in the shortest format, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

Muhammad Waseem’s side delivered a clinical performance to eliminate Japan from qualifying contention with an eight-wicket win at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground.

Their thumping victory also dashed the hopes of Qatar and Samoa, who needed a Japanese win to stay in the race for playing in the mega event.

UAE’s fielding set the tone early, as Japan stumbled to 25/3 in the powerplay and never fully recovered, despite a late rally led by wicketkeeper Wataru Miyauchi.

Playing his first match of the tournament and coming at number nine, Miyauchi struck an unbeaten 45 off 32 balls, and was supported by number eleven Abdul Samad in a 42-run stand that lifted Japan to 116/9.

For the UAE, Haider Ali starred with the ball, finishing with figures of 3-12 from three overs. UAE’s chase began with intent, as Waseem and Alishan Sharafu powered the side to 36/0 within three overs.

Though the pair fell after brisk contributions - Waseem scoring 42 off 26 balls and Sharafu making 46 off 27 deliveries, the UAE wrapped up the chase in the 13th over to seal their World Cup spot and spark celebrations in Muscat.

The UAE will now be playing in a Men’s T20 World Cup for just the third time. They last featured in the mega event in 2022, when they exited in the group stage in Australia. Their sole win in that tournament came through a memorable seven-run victory over Namibia in Geelong.

Nepal and Oman secure WC berths: Earlier, Nepal and Oman became the first two teams from the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier to seal their places for the mega event, confirming top-three finishes in the Super Six stage. With the UAE’s victory over Samoa, both Nepal and Oman were mathematically assured of progressing.

The Super Six phase has produced a series of thrillers, with five of the first six matches going into the final over, and both Nepal and Oman demonstrating composure in clutch moments to punch their World Cup tickets.

Nepal, unbeaten in the group stage, carried two points into the Super Six and went on to win two final-ball thrillers against the UAE and Qatar. In a dramatic contest against the Emiratis, Dipendra Singh Airee was hit for six by Dhruv Parashar to leave just three runs required from three balls, but Nepal held their nerve — a catch by Sundeep Jora followed by two run-outs sealed a last-gasp win.

A day later, Rohit Paudel’s side pulled off another Houdini act. Defending 148, Nepal looked out of the contest as Qatar reached 97/1 inside 12 overs, but Sandeep Lamichhane’s stunning spell of 5-18 flipped the script.

The leg-spinner’s incisive bowling triggered a collapse that saw Qatar fall short by 10 runs, handing Nepal a memorable victory and their 2026 T20 World Cup qualification.

Oman mirrored Nepal’s consistency, also carrying two points into the Super Six stage and making an immediate impact. They began by comfortably defending 172 against Qatar before pulling off a tight chase against the UAE. Chasing in that encounter, Oman relied on Nadeem Khan’s late fireworks, as he struck a four and a six off consecutive deliveries against Muhammad Arfan to seal the win with two balls remaining.

Samoa, despite upsetting Papua New Guinea in the group stage, have been eliminated following consecutive defeats.

Indo-Asian News Service