Nepal, which has faced a series of disappointing results in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup League-2 series being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will play its final match today (Wednesday). After losing its last three consecutive matches, Nepal is set to face the host nation, UAE, in its concluding game.
As usual, the match between the two countries will begin at 11:15 AM (Nepal time). In its previous game on Saturday, Nepal was defeated by the United States by four wickets — marking its second loss to the USA in this series. Earlier, Nepal had suffered a heavy 106-run defeat against the USA in the opening match, while the second match ended in a loss to the UAE.
The United States, on the other hand, has maintained an impressive record, securing four consecutive wins in the series. The USA recently registered a commanding 243-run victory against the host UAE on Monday. With this win, the USA has accumulated 36 points from 24 matches, holding the top position in the standings. The UAE, with eight points from 19 matches, remains at the bottom.
Nepal’s position in the League-2 table is not satisfactory. Having played 19 matches, Nepal has managed to secure only 12 points, placing seventh. The team has recorded five wins, twelve losses, and two no-results.
The ICC Cricket World Cup League-2 holds significant importance for the participating teams, as it serves as a qualifying pathway for the 2027 ICC One-Day World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
After the completion of the League-2 series, the top four teams in the points table will directly qualify for the final stage of the World Cup Qualifiers. Meanwhile, the bottom four teams will have to compete in the playoff stage for a chance to qualify.
In addition, this tournament also plays a crucial role in helping associate nations, including Nepal, maintain their One-Day International (ODI) status granted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2018. The ODI status for associate members such as Nepal, Scotland, UAE, the Netherlands, Namibia, Oman, the USA, and Canada will remain valid until the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
In the second edition of the League-2 tournament, all eight participating nations will play a total of 36 matches each — three series at home and six series abroad.
