ACC Premier Cup begins in Nepal

The inaugural ACC Premier Cup, a keystone tournament in the ACC’s expansive new fifty-over pathway structure, has commenced in Nepal. The tournament is being held from April 18 to May 1 in Kathmandu, with Nepal playing host to fellow ODI nations Oman and the UAE, alongside seven other Asian Associate teams. They will compete for a single qualifying berth at this year’s Asia Cup.

The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the ACC Emerging Teams Cup, while serving as a showcase for the Associate international one-day game in the ICC’s strongest region. The tournament has generated excitement among cricket fans in Nepal, Oman, and the UAE, as well as across Asia.

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The expansion of the qualification tournament to ten teams has necessitated splitting the field into two pools. Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia are drawn in Group A, while Group B comprises the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Each group will contest a single round-robin, with the top two sides from each then progressing directly to the semi-finals. The two semi-final winners will then meet in the final, while the losing semi-finalists contest the third place play-off.