Nepal will look to qualify for their second Asia Cup when they begin their 2024 ACC Men’s T20 Premier Cup against Malaysia in Al Amerat, Oman on Friday.

Nepal have been drawn alongside Hong Kong, Malaysia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in Group A. Group B includes Bahrain, Cambodia, Kuwait, hosts Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Nepal will play their second group match against Qatar on Saturday before facing Hong Kong on April 15 and Saudi Arabia on April 17.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played on April 19.

The final will take place on April 21, with the champions booking their spot in the 2025 Asia Cup.

Nepal are the defending champions of the Premier Cup. The Rhinos defeated the UAE in the final to win the 2023 edition in Kathmandu and qualified for their first ever Asia Cup which was held in India in August and September last year.

Nepal have announced a 14-member team for the Premier Cup, retaining all the players from a squad that won the title of the SMS Friendship Cup—involving Gujarat and Baroda—in India four days ago, except for Aakash Chand.

The Premier Cup will also serve as a preparation to Nepal ahead of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World—their only second appearance at a World Cup and first since 2014—in the West Indies and the United States in June.

Prior to the World Cup, Nepal will host West Indies-A in a five-match T20 series at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur from April 25 to May 5.

Nepal Squad

Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Rohit Paudel (c), Bibek Yadav, Sundeep Jora, Anil Sah, Gulsan Jha, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC and Abinash Bohara