Oman to Host Combined ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia and EAP Qualifier in October

Oman is set to host a major qualifying event for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, as the combined Asia and East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier will take place in the Gulf nation this October. The tournament, scheduled from October 8 to 17, will feature nine teams vying for three coveted spots in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

The participating teams include sub-regional qualifiers from 2024—Kuwait, Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, Japan, and Samoa—along with Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and the host nation Oman. These nine teams are split into three groups of three, with each group’s top two teams moving on to the Super Six stage. The Super Six matches will be held from October 12 to 17, and the top three teams from that stage will secure qualification for the 2026 global tournament.

Group 1 features UAE, Malaysia, and Qatar, while Group 2 includes Nepal, Kuwait, and Japan, a rising force in the EAP region. Host nation Oman is placed in Group 3 alongside Papua New Guinea and Samoa. Among these sides, Oman, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and the UAE have prior experience competing in the Men’s T20 World Cup, adding depth and competitiveness to the contest.

The tournament will open with a group stage from October 8 to 10. Following this, the advancing teams will compete in the Super Six format, which will ultimately decide the three qualifiers for the next T20 World Cup.

In addition to the men’s event, the ICC also confirmed the schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier. This tournament will take place from September 9 to 15 in Suva, Fiji. Competing teams include the host Fiji, along with Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and the Philippines. These teams will be divided into two groups of four, with the top teams advancing to the final. The winner of the final will qualify for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.