Muscat, Oct 15 (NationPress) Nepal and Oman have emerged as the first two teams to secure their spots for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 from the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, achieving top-three placements in the Super Six stage. Following the UAE's win against Samoa, both Nepal and Oman were guaranteed progression, with the Emiratis now in third place and unable to displace either team from their qualification positions.

The Super Six stage has been filled with excitement, highlighted by five out of six matches that required the final over, with Nepal and Oman showcasing their ability to maintain composure in critical moments to secure their World Cup qualifications.

Nepal, unbeaten in the group stage, entered the Super Six with two points and managed to clinch two nail-biting victories against the UAE and Qatar. In a thrilling match against the Emiratis, Dipendra Singh Airee faced a challenging moment when Dhruv Parashar hit him for a six, leaving just three runs needed from three balls. However, Nepal held their composure, with a catch by Sundeep Jora and two run-outs culminating in a dramatic last-minute win.

In another gripping encounter, Rohit Paudel’s team showcased resilience. Defending a total of 148, Nepal appeared to be losing ground as Qatar reached 97/1 in just 12 overs. Yet, a remarkable bowling performance from Sandeep Lamichhane, who took 5 wickets for 18 runs, turned the match in Nepal's favor, leading to a thrilling 10-run victory and securing their spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Oman mirrored Nepal’s strong performance, also entering the Super Six with two points and making an immediate impact. They successfully defended a score of 172 against Qatar and pulled off a narrow victory against the UAE. In that match, Nadeem Khan’s late-game heroics, hitting a four and a six off consecutive balls against Muhammad Arfan, clinched the win with just two deliveries to spare.

The UAE is still in the race for the final qualification slot following a dominant win over Samoa, setting up an important match against Japan on October 16. The Emiratis currently hold the third position, while Qatar retains a slim chance of qualification, needing to beat Samoa, rely on favorable results, and improve their net run rate.

Despite their earlier upset against Papua New Guinea in the group stage, Samoa has been eliminated after suffering consecutive defeats.