After finishing top two in the World Cricket League 2018, Nepal qualified for the 2018 ICC World Cup Qualifiers to be held in Zimbabwe from March 4 to 25, 2018.
The finalists of the Qualifiers will both progress to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 to be held in England and Wales, whilst the Netherlands (ICC World Cricket League Championship winners) and the three highest finishing Associate Members will earn ODI status till 2022 upon the conclusion of the event.
The West Windies, Ireland, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and UAE make up Group A, while Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Nepal form Group B.
Each side will play the other teams in their group once with the top three from the groups progressing to the Super Six stage. The teams each play three Super Six matches against the sides they did not meet in the group stage. All points won in the groups will be carried over to the Super Six stage apart from those gained against the bottom two from each group.
Nepal’s opponents
In the warm-up matches, Nepal plays UAE on February 27 and Hong Kong on March 1.
In first round, Nepal will play the following matches:
Zimbabwe, March 4 at Queens Sports Club Bulawayo
Zimbabwe have appeared at nine editions of the Cricket World Cup and are currently ranked 11th in the ODI ranking. They have been regulars at the tournament, having played in every edition since their debut appearance in 1983, reaching the Super Six stage in both 1999 and 2003.
Scotland, March 8 at Queens Sports Club Bulawayo
Scotland won eight of their 14 games in the WCL Championship to finish second in the standings and confirm their place at the Qualifiers. Despite appearing at three editions of the Cricket World Cup (1999, 2007, 2015), they’re yet to record a victory at the tournament.
Afghanistan, March 10 at Bulawayo Athletic Club
Afghanistan will be aiming to reach their second-ever Cricket World Cup following their debut appearance in 2015. Of their six appearances at CWC15, they lost five and managed one win, beating Scotland by one wicket in a thriller. Afghanistan is a Test-nation since June 2017.
Hong Kong, Match 12 at Queens Sports Club Bulawayo
Hong Kong will have the opportunity to qualify for their first-ever Cricket World Cup. After 14 rounds of the WCL Championship, Hong Kong finished with eight wins and 18 points, enough to secure them third spot and a place at the Qualifiers. While they may not have made a Cricket World Cup appearance, they have turned out at the World Twenty20 on two occasions (2014, 2016), recording a victory over hosts Bangladesh in 2014.