Kathmandu, January 12
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier is set to be held in Kathmandu from next week. A total of 10 nations, including host Nepal, will compete in the biggest ICC event Nepal has ever hosted.
The top four teams from the tournament will qualify for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in England and Wales later this year. The competition also features three Test-playing nations, including Zimbabwe, Ireland and Bangladesh.
Alongside them, Nepal, Scotland, Namibia, the United States, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Netherlands and Thailand are competing as associate nations. Nepal have been placed in Group B along with Scotland, the Netherlands, Thailand and Zimbabwe.
All four of Nepal’s group opponents are ranked higher than Nepal in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings. Nepal currently sit 21st, while each of the other teams occupies a superior position.
Nepal have previously faced Thailand and the Netherlands, but will be meeting Scotland and Zimbabwe for the first time in international cricket.
Ahead of the tournament, Harshal Jayant Pathak was appointed head coach of the Nepal women’s team. Coach Pathak has expressed optimism about Nepal’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
“I am positive that we can qualify. There are challenges, but this team has the ability. The players are very eager to perform well and can align with the team’s plans,” Pathak says. “I see a strong possibility of qualification, especially as we are playing at home.”
Team captain Indu Barma also said the team has prepared well with the goal of qualification.
“We are preparing well. Regardless of the opponents, our mindset is to perform well on match day. We need to deliver our best from our side,” she says.
Today, we take a closer look at the teams Nepal will face in the Women’s World Cup Global Qualifier.
Thailand
Thailand are a familiar opponent for the Nepal women’s cricket team. Nepal have faced Thailand seven times in Women’s T20Is and has lost all seven matches.
Thailand have previously featured in the Women’s T20 World Cup. They played in the 2020 edition held in Australia but failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Thailand have also participated in the Women’s Asia Cup in 2012, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2024. In the 2022 Asia Cup, Thailand defeated Pakistan and reached the semifinals.
Thailand are ranked 12th in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings. Nepal last faced Thailand in the Super Three stage of the Women’s Asia World Cup Qualifier, where Nepal suffered a defeat.
Scotland
Scotland is the highest-ranked associate team in women’s cricket and is currently placed 11th in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings.
Scotland has also played in a Women’s T20 World Cup once. They played in the 2024 edition held in the UAE but were unable to advance beyond the group stage. Based on that performance, Scotland earned direct qualification to the Global Qualifier.
Scotland has played 73 Women’s T20I matches so far, winning 43 and losing 29, with one match producing no result.
Nepal have not yet faced Scotland in an official T20I. However, the two teams played a practice match on Friday, where Nepal lost by 27 runs.
Netherlands
The Netherlands are ranked 14th in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings. Although the Dutch women’s team have played in four ODI World Cups, they have yet to feature in a Women’s T20 World Cup.
The Netherlands qualified for the Global Qualifier as runners-up of the European Qualifier Division One. Group winners Ireland are placed in the other group.
The Netherlands women’s team have played 99 T20Is, winning 46 and losing 47, with two ties and four no-results.
In head-to-head encounters, Nepal have lost all three T20I matches against the Netherlands. The two sides first met during a tri-nation series held in Nepal in January–February last year.
The Netherlands have also defeated Test nation Zimbabwe once.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe are ranked 15th in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings and has yet to play in a Women’s T20 World Cup. They qualified for the Global Qualifier through the African Qualifiers.
Zimbabwe have played 82 Women’s T20Is, winning 55 and losing 26, with one match ending in a tie.
Nepal have not faced Zimbabwe so far. A practice match scheduled for Sunday could not take place as the Zimbabwean team had not arrived in Nepal.
Zimbabwe won the gold medal in cricket at the 2023 African Games.
