The United Arab Emirates have confirmed their place in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup after a convincing win over Japan in the Asia-Pacific Qualifier on Thursday.
Batting first, Japan could only manage 116 runs for 9 wickets. Watari Miyauchi, who came in at number nine, top-scored with 45, while the rest of the batting line-up failed to contribute significantly.
In reply, the UAE chased down the target with ease, securing victory with 47 balls and 8 wickets to spare. Alishan Sharafu scored 46 and captain Mohammad Waseem added 42 to steer their side to the win and claim the final available spot in the tournament.
Three teams from the Asia-Pacific region were set to qualify for the World Cup. Oman and Nepal had already secured their places, leaving UAE and Japan to battle for the final spot. With Japan’s defeat, their hopes have ended, despite the qualifier still ongoing in Al Amerat, Oman.
Nepal currently lead the table with 8 points from 4 matches. UAE follow with 6 points from 5 matches, while Oman also have 6 points from 4 matches. No other team in the group can reach 6 points, meaning qualification is now out of reach for the rest.
The 2026 ICC T20 World Cup will be held in February, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Both had already qualified as hosts. They are joined by the top seven teams from the last edition: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States and the West Indies.
Ireland, New Zealand and Pakistan earned their places through ICC rankings. The remaining eight teams came through regional qualifiers. Canada qualified from the Americas, Italy and the Netherlands from Europe, and Namibia and Zimbabwe from Africa. Oman, Nepal and now the UAE complete the list from the Asia-Pacific region.
