Nepal qualifies for Asia Cup 2027 after defeating UAE in ACC Men's Premier Cup 2026 final

Despite the UAE team's defeat to Bangladesh with a score of 34 runs in the group stage match of Group B of the Women's T20 Asia Cup, which took place on Tuesday at the Dubai International Stadium, captain Esha Oza remains optimistic about the future of the young squad.

Bangladesh demonstrated all its experience to overcome the energetic resistance of the UAE players in this crucial match. After spinner Suraksha Kotte (4-0-11-3) performed excellently, restricting Bangladesh to 6-55 by the twelfth over, Sharmin Ahter brilliantly responded to the challenge at the Dubai International Stadium.

Ahter's performance, scoring 38 runs off 31 balls, allowed Bangladesh to accumulate a competitive total of 103 runs with seven wickets down on the slow pitch.

After the UAE team lost momentum following Ahter's strike, it became clear to the UAE batters that maintaining the dream of reaching the semi-finals would be difficult. Bangladesh continued to attack the team with the ball. When Rinita Radjit became the third wicket for 22 runs in the eighth over, the situation became critical.

The 2018 champions showed their skill by restricting the UAE to only 69 runs with nine wickets down. The light spinner Rabeya Khan (4-0-14-3), medium pacer Marufa Akhter (4-0-9-2), and left-arm spinner Nahida Akhter (4-0-18-2) perfectly utilized the conditions, preventing the home batters from finding rhythm.

The reward for Bangladesh is a semi-final match against the seven-time Indian champions on Thursday. As for the UAE, they will remember their third participation in the Asia Cup with pride, having achieved only their second victory in the tournament's history when they defeated Indonesia.

Captain Esha acknowledged that with more game experience, the UAE could face elite teams much more confidently in the future. In the post-match press conference, Esha stated: 'I think more matches (against strong teams) will definitely help. Playing more games brings experience and knowledge.'

She added: 'What we learned today from them is how they managed to build a partnership after losing the first six wickets. That is what we needed today, but we couldn't do it. So, what can bridge the gap between us and full members is our bowling.'

Esha continued: 'The more we play against such bowlers, I think we will become better as batters. This will help us improve decision-making and perhaps even believe in ourselves a little more—that when we face them, we can overcome them.'

Esha noted that captaining the UAE on home soil was a dream come true for her. 'I believe that it is an honor to lead any team, and it is an honor to lead the UAE team. I think this group of girls we have is dedicated. They are eager to come out and show themselves, and they always try their best when we have such crucial games,' she said.

She also highlighted the special experience of playing in front of friends and family: 'And having that cheer of 'UAE, UAE' when we were on the field, which we didn't have before, was a completely different experience. We came here, we watched (Women's T20) World Cup, and thought: 'We want to be there.' So this time it was great that the Asia Cup was held at home, and we were there. We were on the field. It would have been even happier if we had finished today's game as winners. But again, it is experience and knowledge, and yes, the team has a long way to go.'

The country, which lost to Bangladesh by a score of nine to zero in its first women's international match in 2007, is now on the verge of a historic event. A victory in the last Group B match against Bangladesh—the opponents from their debut match in 2007—on Tuesday in Dubai will allow the UAE team, led by Esha Oza, to secure a historic place in the Women's T20 Asia Cup semi-finals.

Nearly two decades after their unsuccessful debut with a 'mothers and daughters' team, the UAE has received a golden opportunity to demonstrate significant progress in their cricket.

When the teams take to the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday at 18:30, Chaya Mugal will be closely watching every moment with great anticipation. It was under her leadership that the UAE debuted at the Asia Cup in 2022.

Now, as the team fights for a semi-final spot after qualifying for the Asia Cup for the third consecutive time, Mugal feels proud. The former UAE captain told Khaleej Times: 'We are potentially just one win away from making it into one of Asia's top four teams. This will be a huge step for women's cricket in the UAE, especially considering the first Asia Cup will be held in the UAE.'

Mugal emphasized that the current situation is a privilege for the UAE while the country strives to attract more young girls to cricket. She noted that many schoolgirls will come to watch the game the next day (Tuesday), and they conducted trophy tours in various schools on Monday, so the girls are very excited.

'So I think we are really looking forward to this—a good cricket game in front of a crowd. We just need to play better than Bangladesh for one night. I think this will be a big story for us.'

The UAE, which surprised the Zimbabwe team, a full member of the ICC, in a bilateral series last year, is now among the most stable affiliated teams in the world, having gained ODI status last year. Women's cricket in the country is bearing fruit from the far-sighted initiatives undertaken by the Emirates Cricket Board, which received the ICC Development Award.

Mugal added that the Asia Cup is a chance to raise awareness in UAE schools. She mentioned that several years ago, it was difficult to find a good group of players capable of playing cricket, but now the development program is working very well. 'The best part is that we now have many players waiting in line and trying to make it into the national team. Seeing these girls master the sport is very inspiring.'

Mugal believes that a spot in the Asia Cup semi-finals will be the finishing touch. She noted that they are playing against the best teams in Asia, and gaining such experience for the players, the opportunity to play against those they have always dreamed of meeting—Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and if they reach the semi-finals, India—is a huge experience.

Former UAE men's captain Ahmed Raza, who previously coached the women's team, believes that Esha's team has the potential for a sensation against Bangladesh. He recalled that this is the same UAE team that defeated Zimbabwe last year. He noted that it was a historic moment—their first ODI tournament, first ODI victory, and first T20 series victory against a full ICC member. 'This entire tour, covering ODI and T20, was full of premieres. So many records were broken left, right, and center.'

The Uzbekistan national team won the medal count at the III Open Central Asia Athletics Championship, which took place from August 23 to 25 in Tashkent. A total of 294 athletes from nine countries participated in this tournament. Uzbek athletes won a total of 61 medals, including 22 gold medals.

The competitions were held at the new athletics stadium in the Olympic Village and at the Uzbekistan Athletics Federation stadium. The tournament program covered both running and technical disciplines, such as sprints, middle and long distances, hurdles, relays, jumps, and throws.

By the end of the event, Uzbekistan won 22 gold, 20 silver, and 19 bronze medals. Kazakhstan came in second place in the overall standings, collecting 24 awards: 10 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze. Third place was awarded to the Turkmenistan national team, which received seven medals—2 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze. Representatives from all nine participating countries were on the podium.

The championship was organized by the Central Asian Academy of Running and Walking in conjunction with the Central Asian Athletics Association. The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan. Judges and specialists from various regions of the country, as well as international and regional technical delegations, participated in the organization. Over one hundred student volunteers contributed to the team's work.

The chief referee of the competition, Timur Asanov, noted that this championship marked the beginning of the international athletics season. During this season, athletes begin accumulating rating points necessary for participation in the 2027 World Championships. Furthermore, the tournament is part of the preparatory stage for athletes before the 2026 Summer Asian Games, which will be held in Japan.

One of the most intense disciplines was the women's sprint. Lailo Allaberganova from Uzbekistan twice won silver medals in the 100 and 200 meters, losing to Victoria An from Kazakhstan, who is a record holder and has participated in two Olympic Games. The finish in the 100 meters was extremely close: Allaberganova finished with a time of 11.92 seconds, beating An by only 0.07 seconds with 11.85 seconds. Valentina Meredova from Turkmenistan, an Olympian from Beijing, won the bronze medal in this distance with a time of 12.09 seconds. In the 200-meter race, Ani Mamatsashvili from Georgia took third place with a time of 24.78.

In the men's sprint, Sultan Gafurjonov brought two golds to Uzbekistan, winning in the 100 and 200 meters. Uzbek athletes also showed high results in middle and long distances, hurdles, and steeplechase. Uzbekistan teams won the men's and mixed 4x400 meter relays.

Uzbek athletes also performed successfully in technical sports. In women's high jump, Valeria Gorbatova won with a result of 1.88 meters. In men's long jump, Sarvar Meyliev and Abdurakhman Mahmudjonov won gold and silver, achieving results of 7.72 and 7.38 meters, respectively. Special attention was drawn to the performance of the Uzbekistan national team in shot put and discus among women, where they took all three podium spots. The men's javelin throw competition concluded with a victory for an Uzbek athlete.

The international level of competition was also demonstrated in jumping events. Tawan Kaeodam from Thailand won the men's high jump with a result of 2.17 meters. In women's long jump, Alina Chistyakova and Anastasia Rypakova from Kazakhstan won gold and silver, while Rozario Tia Lewis from Singapore took bronze. Maria Efremova from Kazakhstan won the women's triple jump.

The Secretary General of the Central Asian Athletics Association, Alexey Kondrat, emphasized that this is the third championship in the Association's history, noting the growth in its level, geography, and sporting competition. He highlighted the importance of the tournament as one of the key starting points for Central Asian athletes before the Asian Games, as well as an opportunity to confirm places in national teams. Kondrat added that the competitions allow for the assessment of the potential of a new generation of athletes under serious international competition, laying the foundation for the development of athletics in the region.

Tashkent previously hosted the regional open championship in 2024, when the Uzbekistan national team won 69 medals: 18 gold, 28 silver, and 23 bronze. In 2026, the competition will be held again in the capital, bringing together leading athletes from the region and expanding international participation.

Thus, the III Open Central Asia Championship confirmed the high level of competitive struggle in the region and served as a significant international start for athletes before major seasonal events. Holding the tournament at the facilities of the Olympic Village also contributed to the use of Tashkent's new sports infrastructure for world-class events.