Inaugural ACC Premier Cup commences in Nepal

The keystone tournament in the ACC's expansive new fifty-over pathway structure, the first edition of the ACC Premier Cup gets underway on Tuesday (April 18) at Kathmandu - pitting hosts Nepal against fellow ODI nations Oman and the UAE alongside seven other Asian Associates to compete for a single qualifying berth at this year's Asia Cup. The two-week tournament also serves as a qualifier for the ACC Emerging Teams Cup, while serving as a showcase for the Associate international one-day game in the ICC's strongest region.

The Format

The expansion of the qualification tournament to ten teams has necessitated splitting the field into two pools. Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are drawn in Group A, while Group B comprises the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuwait and Bahrain. Each group will contest a single round robin, with the top two sides from each then progressing directly to the semi-finals. The two semi-final winners will then meet in the final, while the losing semi-finalists contest the third place play-off.

What's at Stake

The Premier Cup champions will claim the sole qualifying berth for the 2023 Asia Cup, to be hosted by Pakistan in September, alongside Asian Full Members India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The qualifier has been drawn in Group A alongside India and Pakistan, guaranteeing at least two high-profile ODIs on the World Stage. The Premier Cup champions will also qualify for the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Cup in July along with the runners-up and the winner of the third place play-off, where the three qualifiers will take on the five Full Members' under-23s sides.

Group A

Hosts Nepal have arguably drawn the tougher of the two groups, but nonetheless will find themselves in the unfamiliar position of favourites in this tournament, with home advantage and form on their side. Coming off the back of a miraculous run of form that saw them claim the third direct qualification