Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Oman have clinched the final four berths for the men’s cricket tournament at this year’s Asian Games, to be staged in Japan from late September. Their progress from the qualifying event in Singapore means the ten-team field is now complete, with the quartet joining Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the hosts, Japan.
Nepal and Malaysia came through Group A, Hong Kong and Oman from Group B. The format was straightforward – finish in the top two and you are on the plane – and all four sides got the job done without much fuss.
Nepal wasted no time. They opened with a thumping 221-run win over China after piling up 313 for 2, opener Kushal Bhurtel bludgeoning 129 from 43 balls. It was Nepal’s second 300-plus total in men’s T20s, something no other side has managed twice. A 167-run victory against Malaysia followed, Bhurtel reaching three figures again in a total of 275 for 7. Qatar’s late withdrawal left Group A one team light, so two wins were enough for top spot.
Malaysia booked their ticket by beating China first up and could treat the Nepal fixture as a free hit. Skipper Ahmad Faiz called the opportunity “a huge step for Malaysian cricket”, crediting the side’s younger players for handling the pressure.
In Group B, Hong Kong and Oman both brushed aside Bahrain and Singapore. Their final pool match on Thursday will settle who plays Malaysia and who meets Nepal in the semi-finals, though the outcomes there will not alter qualification. Hong Kong batter Kinchit Shah said the group had been “business-like”, while Oman coach Duleep Mendis praised his bowlers’ consistency on the slow Singapore surface.
The men’s event runs from 24 September to 3 October. As in previous editions, Asian Full Members – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – received automatic entry, while Japan qualify as hosts.
The women’s competition, scheduled for 17-22 September, was finalised last week, with Thailand, Malaysia and China advancing from their own qualifier to join Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Japan.
Fixtures for both tournaments are due to be released later this month.
