Zimbabwe and Namibia have secured their places as the 16th and 17th teams to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026, following victories over Kenya and Tanzania in the Africa qualifier semi-finals on Thursday, October 2. As the tournament is set to feature 20 teams next year, three spots remain, which will be determined in the East Asia Pacific Qualifier scheduled from October 8 to 17 in Oman.
The nine teams participating in this qualifier are Oman, Samoa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Nepal, Kuwait, Malaysia, Japan, and Papua New Guinea. These teams are divided into three groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Six round.
The three teams that emerge from the Super Six stage will qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka. Notably, Ross Taylor is set to play for Samoa after the team officially qualified. A total of 21 matches are planned, with the opening game between Oman and Samoa kicking off on October 8.
Tournament Overview
Groups:
- Group 1: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia
- Group 2: Nepal, Kuwait, Japan
- Group 3: Oman, Samoa, Papua New Guinea
Venues:
All matches for the East Asia Pacific Qualifier will be held at Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1) in Oman.
Schedule:
- October 8: Oman vs Samoa at 11:30 AM; UAE vs Qatar at 4:00 PM; Nepal vs Kuwait at 8:30 PM
- October 9: Malaysia vs Qatar at 11:30 AM; Kuwait vs Japan at 4:00 PM; Papua New Guinea vs Samoa at 8:30 PM
- October 10: UAE vs Malaysia at 11:30 AM; Nepal vs Japan at 4:00 PM; Oman vs Papua New Guinea at 8:30 PM
The Super Six matches will occur from October 12 to 17.
