Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Oman seal Asian Games 2026 berths

Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Oman have secured the final four spots in the men's cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games after successful campaigns in the qualification tournament held in Singapore.

The quartet joins Asia's top cricketing nations and host country Japan in the continental event, which is scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 3.

Nepal, Malaysia advance from Group A

Nepal topped Group A with two victories from as many matches, underlining its growing strength in associate cricket. The side registered a convincing win over China and finished ahead of the competition to seal qualification.

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Malaysia also booked its place after producing a strong campaign, including a crucial victory over China. The group featured only three teams after Qatar withdrew from the tournament before the start of play.

Both Nepal and Malaysia secured the two available qualification berths from Group A, ensuring their participation in the Asian Games later this year.

Hong Kong and Oman qualify

Hong Kong and Oman emerged from Group B to claim the remaining qualification spots. Both teams remained unbeaten during the group stage and advanced comfortably.

Their final group-stage encounter was set to determine semifinal matchups, with the winner facing Malaysia and the loser taking on Nepal. The successful qualifiers will now join automatically qualified teams India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, along with hosts Japan, in the men's cricket tournament.

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The qualification campaign highlights the continued growth of associate cricket across Asia, with teams such as Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Oman earning the opportunity to compete against some of the continent's strongest cricketing nations.

With the qualifying stage now complete, attention turns to the main event in Japan, where established powers and emerging teams will battle for continental glory. The tournament is expected to provide a significant platform for associate nations to showcase their progress on one of Asia's biggest multi-sport stages.