SATV 20 April, Kathmandu : Nepal’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup were dashed after their crucial match against Afghanistan in the Asia Qualifiers was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. The game, scheduled for Saturday, was unable to proceed as heavy rain overnight left the lower ground at Mulpani waterlogged. Despite efforts to dry the field, some areas remained unfit for play, and after three inspections, the umpire declared the match abandoned at 2 pm.

Both Nepal and Afghanistan had won three matches in the group stage, with seven points each. However, Afghanistan’s superior net run rate of 4.8170 compared to Nepal’s 3.5764 which meant they advanced to the World Cup, as only one team from the qualifiers could secure a place. The two teams had previously defeated UAE, Hong Kong, and Oman and shared equal six points.

This marks a heartbreaking end to Nepal's bid to qualify for their ninth U-19 World Cup appearance. The team had shown strong form, including a recent practice series against Afghanistan, but the cancellation of the decisive match ended their chances. 

Nepal’s journey to the 2026 World Cup will now have to wait, with Afghanistan progressing to compete in Zimbabwe and Namibia.