The Nepali women cricketers have made the nation proud by qualifying for the ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup, defeating the hosts United Arab Emirates by eight wickets in the final match of the Asian qualifiers. The young and spirited Nepali team displayed a sterling performance at the Seven Districts Sports Club in Ajman, UAE, where they restricted the UAE to 83 for 9 and set themselves a modest target of 84 runs. For Nepal, it was their last of the six matches to secure their place in the T20 World Cup to be held in Malaysia in 2025. The UAE won the toss and elected to bat first, riding high with their five matches unbeaten. Clearly, the hosts had an edge over Nepal. The Nepali players needed to hit the target of 84 within 16.4 overs, as both teams shared points – 10 points. Demonstrating remarkable skill and determination, the Nepali women achieved the target in just 14.4 overs with the loss of two wickets. Despite a precarious position at the start of the match, with 10 points and one loss to the UAE, the Nepali team showed their grit and rose to the occasion.
It was indeed a do-or-die battle for the Nepali women. Krishma Gurung's outstanding performance, claiming four wickets for 17 runs, followed by Riya Sharma and Seemana KC's two wickets each, were instrumental in Nepal's victory. In the batting lineup, Sana Praveen's 35 not out, Captain Puja Mahato's 18, Sabitri Dhami's 12, and Soni Pakhrin's 13 runs added up to the total 84 that Nepal needed. While Nepal was the last team to qualify for the T20 World Cup in the four-nation group, their sterling team performance propelled them to the top of the table in the four-team Asia qualifier with a net run rate of 3.935 runs. Following the loss, the UAE's run rate slightly decreased to 3.740 runs. With this victory, Nepal now joins hosts Malaysia, Nigeria, Samoa, Scotland, and the United States as regional qualifiers. The six regional qualifiers and 10 full-member nations – Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies – will contest in the 16-team ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in Malaysia from January 18 to February 2, 2025.
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Nepal are placed in Group D of the World Cup alongside Australia, Bangladesh, and Scotland. They will play their first match against Bangladesh on the opening day. It is worth recalling that only two years ago, the Nepali U-19 team missed out on their opportunity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In the first qualifiers, Nepal was all out for eight runs against the UAE before being defeated by Thailand by 49 runs. This time, Nepal avenged the defeats to both opponents to secure the last available seat for the World Cup. With the T20 World Cup barely 10 weeks away, the 10 full-member teams that qualify for the event directly are formidable opponents with a long history and legacy in cricket. The Nepali girls have shown tremendous potential and delivered on the crease. The responsibility now falls on the shoulders of the Cricket Association of Nepal and the National Sports Council to leave no stone unturned in maintaining the team's fighting spirit, keeping them game-fit and optimistic. The Nepali women's cricket team has proven their mettle and resilience. As they prepare for the World Cup, it is crucial for the authorities to provide them with the necessary support and resources to excel on the global stage. The nation stands behind them, proud of their achievements and hopeful for their success in the upcoming tournament.
