KATHMANDU: Nepal’s hopes of qualifying for the ICC U-19 World Cup were washed away after persistent rain forced the abandonment of their final and decisive match against Afghanistan in the Asia Qualifiers on Saturday.
The much-anticipated clash at the Mulpani Cricket Ground, which was to determine the qualifier from the region, never got underway due to a waterlogged field and continued weather disruptions throughout the day.
With both teams unbeaten in the tournament leading into the fixture, the winner would have earned direct qualification to the U-19 World Cup.
Afghanistan had won all three of their previous matches by convincing margins, giving them the edge over Nepal in the net run rate standings. Despite Nepal’s strong campaign and passionate home crowd support, the washout means they will miss out on a spot in the prestigious youth tournament.
The result left fans heartbroken, as many had hoped to see Nepal return to the U-19 World Cup stage. The tournament began with weather-related delays and ultimately ended with rain deciding its most crucial fixture.
Comment