Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s One Day International (ODI) status is under serious threat as the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (WCL-2) approaches its final leg.
Out of eight teams, five – USA, the Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia and Nepal – have already played 32 out of 36 available matches. Oman and Canada have played 28 matches each, while the UAE have played the fewest – 24.
Nepal came under pressure after it was comprehensively beaten in all four matches of the recent tri-series against Namibia and the Netherlands in the Netherlands.
A miraculous run of 11 wins out of 12 remaining matches helped Nepal not only retain its ODI status but also ensured a top-four finish in the previous WCL-2 cycle.
With only four matches in the WCL-2 remaining, even four wins out of the remaining four cannot guarantee Nepal’s ODI status this time.
Nepal currently sits sixth in the eight-team WCL-2 table with 24 points from 32 matches. They are above only the UAE, which have 14 points from 24 matches, on the points table and level on points with Canada, which have played 28 matches and still have eight games in hand. This puts Nepal at a clear disadvantage.
Nepal can reach a maximum of only 32 points even if they win all four remaining matches against Canada and Oman. However, since Oman already have 31 points and eight matches left, even a single Omani win would ensure Nepal cannot break into the top four.
With the USA, the Netherlands and Scotland already securing top-four finishes, Nepal’s hopes of reaching the Global Qualifier for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup are effectively over.
While the top four teams qualify directly for the Global Qualifier, teams finishing fifth to eighth enter a play-off alongside the top four teams from the Challenge League. From that play-off, only four teams progress to the Global Qualifier.
Nepal’s ODI status is also tied to performance in this pathway. If Nepal fail to finish above teams coming from the Challenge Cup, they will lose their ODI status.
Twelve teams in the Challenge Cup play a total of 15 matches in the two-year cycle. They are pooled into two groups of six teams each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the play-offs.
At present, Jersey and Kuwait are in the first and second positions in Group A, and Uganda and Italy in Group B.
If their respective positions do not change after the remaining five matches are played, these four teams will play in the play-offs against WCL-2’s four bottom-placed teams.
Nepal’s ODI status will remain intact if they finish at least sixth on the table.
Dropping to seventh or eighth would leave Nepal more vulnerable in the play-off stage, where stronger Challenge League teams could pose a serious threat.
Four wins out of the remaining four matches could improve Nepal’s chances of finishing in the top six. However, Nepal will have to hope for favourable results in other matches, including those involving Canada.
