Nepal’s national men’s cricket team returned to Kathmandu on the night of October 2, 2026, after participating in the 20th Asian Games in Japan. The team achieved a historic T20 International (T20I) victory over Test nation Afghanistan but was ultimately eliminated in the quarter-finals due to adverse weather conditions.
The 20th Asian Games men’s T20 cricket tournament was held at Korogi Sports Park in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 24 to October 3, 2026. Upon their arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, the Nepali squad, led by captain Dipendra Singh Airee, was welcomed by officials from the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN), the regulatory body for Nepali cricket.
Historic victory and quarter-final exit
During the group stage, Nepal delivered a standout performance, notably securing a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan on September 25, 2026. This marked Nepal’s first T20I win against Afghanistan in 12 years, with their last triumph occurring at the 2014 T20 World Cup. In the match, Afghanistan posted 102 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs, which Nepal chased down in 17.2 overs, losing five wickets. Sandeep Jora top-scored with an unbeaten 34 runs, supported by captain Rohit Paudel’s 33 runs. Bowlers Kushal Bhurtel and Lalit Rajbanshi were instrumental, taking four and three wickets, respectively. This significant win boosted Nepal’s ICC T20I ranking by two positions, moving them to 14th.
Nepal’s final group stage match against host Japan on September 26, 2026, was affected by rain. The game was shortened to 15 overs, with Nepal batting first and scoring 149 runs for four wickets. Sandeep Jora contributed an unbeaten 57 runs, and Lokesh Bam added 52 runs. However, persistent rain led to the match’s cancellation, resulting in both teams sharing points. Nepal advanced to the quarter-finals as group winners.
The quarter-final clash against Sri Lanka, scheduled for September 29, 2026, was also abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to rain. Sri Lanka, holding a higher ICC T20I ranking (9th compared to Nepal’s 14th), progressed to the semi-finals based on tournament rules. This outcome meant Nepal exited the Asian Games cricket tournament at the quarter-final stage, a barrier the team has yet to overcome, having faced similar eliminations in 2010, 2014, and 2022.
Upcoming schedule and World Cup 2026
The year 2026 is set to be a busy one for Nepali cricket. The Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) has unveiled an extensive international calendar, featuring ICC tournaments, Asia-level competitions, bilateral series, World Cup qualifiers, and premier leagues.
The third season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 is slated to run from November 7 to November 21, 2026, involving eight teams competing in 32 matches.
Nepal has also qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. In the World Cup, Nepal is placed in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Italy. Nepal’s matches are scheduled for February 8, 11, 15, and 17, 2026, in Mumbai, India.
Further demonstrating the busy schedule, the Bhutan national cricket team is set to arrive in Nepal on October 3, 2026, to play four practice matches against Gandaki-XI and CAN-XI in Pokhara.
While the team’s return marks the end of their Asian Games campaign, the names of the specific Nepal Cricket Association officials who welcomed the team back to Nepal have not been publicly disclosed.
