Asia Cup 2025: Why Nepal Cricket Team Are Not Part Of The Tournament?- Here's Why

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially unveiled the full schedule for the Asia Cup 2025, which will kick off on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates. Played in the T20 format, this edition of the tournament will feature eight teams and unfold across two venues-Abu Dhabi and Dubai-with 19 matches scheduled.

The participating nations include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Oman, UAE, and Hong Kong. However, one name conspicuously missing from the lineup is Nepal-a side that had featured in the 2023 edition. This absence has raised questions among fans and cricket followers alike.

In the Asia Cup, five Test-playing nations-India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan-automatically earn direct entry. The remaining three slots are filled through the ACC Premier Cup, a qualifying tournament for associate nations.

For the 2025 edition, the ACC made a significant change: instead of only the champion of the 2024 ACC Premier Cup making it to the Asia Cup, the top three teams were given entry into the main tournament.

The UAE emerged victorious in the 2024 Premier Cup, defeating Oman in the final, ensuring both teams' qualification. Meanwhile, Nepal and Hong Kong, the losing semi-finalists, were given another shot in a third-place playoff to determine the final qualifier.

Unfortunately for Nepal, they fell short in that crucial encounter. Hong Kong edged past them with a four-wicket win, clinching the last available spot for the Asia Cup 2025. Earlier, Nepal had lost their semi-final to the UAE by six wickets, while Oman defeated Hong Kong in the other semi-final.

In terms of ICC T20I rankings, Nepal are currently placed 18th with 168 points-higher than Oman (20th) and Hong Kong (24th), while UAE are ranked 15th. Despite their superior ranking to two of the qualified teams, Nepal's on-field performance in the qualifiers ultimately cost them a place.

Their exclusion from this year's Asia Cup serves as a stark reminder that rankings alone don't secure qualification-results on the field do.