United Arab Emirates men’s cricket team sealed the final berth for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after an emphatic eight-wicket win over Japan in the Asia/East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier held in Al Amerat, Oman, on Thursday. With this result, the full 20-team lineup for the global tournament, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is now officially complete.
UAE dominate Japan to clinch final spot
UAE produced a commanding all-round performance to confirm their qualification. Bowling first, UAE restricted Japan to a modest total of 116 for 9 in their 20 overs. Haider Ali starred with the ball, taking three wickets for just 20 runs, while Muhammad Irfan provided crucial support with two for 24. Japan’s resistance came mainly from lower-order batter Wataru Miyauchi, who played a spirited unbeaten knock of 45 off 32 balls, guiding his team to a respectable total after early struggles against disciplined UAE bowling.
In response, UAE’s opening duo – Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem – set the tone with a blistering 70-run stand. Waseem struck a quickfire 42 off 26 balls, while Sharafu anchored the innings with 46 from 27. Their effort ensured a straightforward chase, with Mayank Kumar and Rahul Chopra completing the victory in just 12.1 overs and 47 balls to spare. This triumph propelled UAE to a top-three finish in the qualifier standings, joining Nepal and Oman as the three teams from the Asia/EAP qualification route to book their World Cup berths.
This will be UAE’s third appearance at the ICC T20 World Cup, following earlier qualifications in 2014 and 2022. Their consistent improvement in associate cricket has turned them into one of the strongest sides outside the full-member nations, and the victory over Japan underlined their growing depth and experience under pressure.
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Full 20-team lineup for T20 World Cup 2026
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will feature 20 teams divided into four groups of five, replicating the format used for the 2024 edition. The top two sides from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage before the semifinals and final. Alongside co-hosts India and Sri Lanka, automatic qualifiers include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, and West Indies, based on their 2024 performances. Ireland, Pakistan, and New Zealand qualified through the ICC T20I rankings, while regional qualifiers produced seven new entrants: Canada from the Americas, Italy and the Netherlands from Europe, Namibia and Zimbabwe from Africa, and Nepal, Oman, and UAE from the Asia/EAP region.
The inclusion of emerging nations like Italy and Nepal reflects the rapid globalization of cricket and the success of the regional qualification pathway in providing opportunities for associate teams to perform on the world stage. With the UAE claiming the last ticket, fans can now look forward to a truly global competition that promises fresh narratives and competitive matchups in 2026.
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