Kathmandu: The Nepali U-19 women's cricket team has made history by qualifying for the ICC T20 Women's U-19 World Cup 2025. Nepal earned its place in the tournament, which will be held in Malaysia, with a commanding 8-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the final match of the Asia Qualifiers, held in Ajman, UAE.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the UAE set a modest target of 84 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Nepal successfully chased the target in 14.4 overs, losing just two wickets.

Match Highlights
Nepal’s Top Performers in Batting:

Sana Praveen: 35 runs
Captain Pooja Mahato: 21 runs
Soni Pakhreen: 13 runs
Sabitri Dhami: 12 runs

Nepal’s Bowling Heroes:

Krishma Gurung: 4 wickets
Rhea Sharma and Seema KC: 2 wickets each
Rachana Kumari Chaudhary: 1 wicket
Earlier, the UAE managed only 83 runs for the loss of 9 wickets, thanks to Nepal's disciplined bowling attack.

Road to Qualification
Nepal won four out of five matches in the Asia Qualifiers, competing against UAE, Thailand, and Kuwait. Despite finishing with the same 10 points as the UAE, Nepal advanced due to a superior net run rate, culminating in their decisive win against the hosts.

Prime Minister's Congratulations
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli celebrated the team's achievement, acknowledging it as a historic moment for Nepali women's cricket. He wrote on social media:
"Nepal will play in the World Cup for the first time in women's cricket. Congratulations to Team Nepal!"

This victory marks a milestone for women's cricket in Nepal, as the team prepares to represent the nation on the global stage in 2025.