Kathmandu to host Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-Off in December

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced that Kathmandu will host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-Off from December 4 to 21, 2026.

Eight teams will compete in the 50-over tournament, which is an important step towards qualifying for the next Cricket World Cup. The line-up will include the four bottom-placed teams in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 standings and the top two teams from each of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League groups, A and B.

The four best-performing teams in the play-off will qualify for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in 2027, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa and Namibia.

Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Namibia and Canada will represent League 2. Italy and Uganda have qualified from Challenge League Group B, while the teams to advance from Group A have yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, the schedule for the planned cricket series between Nepal and India A will be revised because of the tournament in Kathmandu.

The two sides were originally scheduled to play three matches on December 9, 11 and 13. CAN said a new schedule would be drawn up and announced soon following coordination and mutual agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and CAN.