Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal booked their spot in the 2027 Men’s Asia Cup with a 44-run win over the UAE in the final of the 2026 ACC Men’s Premier Cup in Malaysia on Saturday.
Batting first, Nepal scored 313 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs. In reply, the UAE folded for 269 in 49.1 overs.
Nepal will now play against the five Asian ICC full members—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka—in Bangladesh next year. Nepal also qualified for the biennial event in 2023.
Opener Aasif Sheikh scored a magnificent ton, his second in ODIs, to script Nepal’s victory. Sheikh scored 102 off 106 balls. He and his opening partner, Arjun Kumal, added 97 runs for the first wicket for Nepal. However, Nepal came under pressure after Kumal (43) fell in the 21st over and Ishan Pandey was out for 13. Rohit Kumar Paudel scored 40 off 44 to support Sheikh from the other end, while Gulsan Kumar Jha scored a quickfire 52 off 38 balls. Dipendra Singh Airee made a run-a-ball 18, and Basir Ahamad remained not out on 15 for Nepal.
Ibrar Ahmad picked up four wickets for the UAE, while Khuzaima Tanveer claimed two, and Haider Ali and Adeeb Usmani had a wicket each.
The UAE started the chase brightly, racing to 40 in the fifth over without losing a wicket. However, they came under pressure after Lalit Rajbanshi bowled Adeeb Usmani (6) and Lamichhane had Gulshan Jha catch Akshdeep Nath for a duck. Captain Harpreet Singh (33) and Rahul Chopra steadied the UAE innings. Chopra scored his maiden ton, remaining not out on 100 off 105 balls for his third ODI century. Sohaib Khan (52) supported him well from the other end, while Khuzaima Tanveer scored 15 off 18. Tanveer’s dismissal triggered the UAE’s collapse, as Ibrar Ahmad made one and Mohammad Mohsin and Haider Ali were both out for ducks.
Karan KC claimed three wickets for Nepal, while Lalit Rajbanshi picked up two. Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohit Paudel, Gulsan Jha and Basir Ahamad had a wicket each for Nepal. Captain Lamichhane used seven bowlers, and all of them picked up at least one wicket.
