Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 17th October 2025, 6:25 AM
The final line-up for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, set to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February next year, has now been confirmed. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have secured the 20th and final spot, completing the roster of teams that will battle for the world title in cricket’s shortest format.
The UAE clinched their place in the tournament after defeating Japan in the Asia-Pacific Qualifier on Thursday.
Batting first, Japan managed a modest total of 116 runs for 9 wickets. Lower-order batter Watari Miyauchi top-scored with 45 runs, while the rest of the batting line-up struggled to make significant contributions.
In response, the UAE chased down the target with remarkable ease — winning with 47 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.
Captain Mohammad Waseem scored 42 runs, while Alishan Sharafu added 46, steering their team to a comfortable victory and a place in next year’s World Cup.
| Match Summary: UAE vs Japan | Details |
| Venue | Al Amerat, Oman |
| Tournament Stage | Asia-Pacific Qualifier |
| Japan Innings | 116/9 (20 overs) |
| Top Scorer (Japan) | Watari Miyauchi – 45 runs |
| UAE Chase | 117/2 in 12.1 overs |
| Top Scorers (UAE) | Alishan Sharafu – 46 runs, Mohammad Waseem – 42 runs |
| Result | UAE won by 8 wickets (47 balls remaining) |
From the Asia-Pacific Qualifiers, three teams were allotted direct entry into the main event — Oman, Nepal, and now the United Arab Emirates.
Before Thursday’s match, Oman and Nepal had already booked their tickets to the World Cup. The final battle for the last regional slot came down to UAE and Japan, where UAE’s dominant win sealed their fate.
| Team | Matches Played | Points |
| Nepal | 4 | 8 |
| UAE | 5 | 6 |
| Oman | 4 | 6 |
| Japan | – | Eliminated |
The Asia-Pacific qualifying round, held in Al Amerat, Oman, is still ongoing, but mathematically no other team can overtake these three in points, confirming their qualification.
As hosts, India and Sri Lanka were automatically included in the line-up. The next seven teams qualified based on their top positions in the 2024 ICC T20 rankings, while the remaining nations earned their spots through regional qualifiers.
| Qualification Category | Qualified Teams |
| Hosts | India, Sri Lanka |
| Top 7 from 2024 Rankings | Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, United States, West Indies |
| Ranking-based Qualification | Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan |
| Regional Qualifiers – Americas | Canada |
| Regional Qualifiers – Europe | Italy, Netherlands |
| Regional Qualifiers – Africa | Namibia, Zimbabwe |
| Regional Qualifiers – Asia-Pacific | Oman, Nepal, United Arab Emirates |
This will be the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and notably the first to feature 20 teams, expanding the competition’s global reach.
The event is expected to draw record audiences across South Asia, as India and Sri Lanka co-host one of the most anticipated cricket tournaments in recent years.
With all qualifying spots now confirmed, the world’s leading cricketing nations — alongside several exciting newcomers such as Nepal, Italy, and Canada — are set to light up the stage in what promises to be a spectacular festival of T20 cricket.
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