On Thursday, October 16, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the 20th and the final nation to qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka. At the Al Amerat Cricket Ground Oman Cricket (Ministry Turf 1) in Muscat, the UAE defeated Japan by eight wickets in the Super Six stage of the Asia/East-Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier tournament to achieve this big feat.
Notably, Haider Ali registered figures of 3/20 to help restrict Japan to 116/9 in their allotted 20 overs despite No. 9 Wataru Miyauchi scoring an unbeaten 45 off 32 with three fours and two sixes. In pursuit of the small target of 117 runs, the highly accomplished UAE opening pair of Alishan Sharafu and captain Muhammad Waseem scored quick-fire 40s
to put their team well on their way to victory before Rahul Kumar and Mayank Yadav stayed unbeaten and finished it off in just 12.1 overs.
UAE are third team after Nepal and Oman to reach T20 World Cup from Asia/EAP Qualifier
There were a maximum of three spots available at the Asia/EAP Qualifier for the T20 World Cup 2026, and the UAE are the third team after Nepal and Oman to clinch it. Apart from co-hosts India and Sri Lanka, the likes of Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States of America (USA), and West Indies qualified for the coveted tournament next year on the basis of finishing in top seven spots in the previous edition last year.
New Zealand, Pakistan, and Ireland have made it to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on the basis of their ICC T20I rankings while Canada made it through from the Americas Qualifier. The likes of Netherlands and Italy made it to the World Cup from the European Qualifier with the latter doing it for the first-time ever, and furthermore, Namibia and Zimbabwe made it to the big dance from the Africa Qualifier earlier this year.
In 2026, the ICC T20 World Cup will be a 20-team tournament for the second time in a row after India won the expanded tournament two years ago in the USA and the Caribbean.
