Afghanistan’s U-19 cricket team qualified for the 2026 World Cup after topping the Asia Qualifiers group with dominant performances.
The Afghanistan U-19 cricket team has officially qualified for the 2026 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup after finishing at the top of the standings in the Asia Qualifiers. The final and decisive match against Nepal, scheduled for Saturday, was called off due to continuous rain and an unplayable pitch condition.
Afghanistan had earlier secured dominant wins against the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Oman in their group stage matches. These victories earned them six points and a superior net run rate of +4.817, placing them at the top of the group table.
Nepal, who also had six points from their previous matches, had a slightly lower net run rate of +3.576. As a result, the cancellation of the match against Afghanistan meant that Nepal missed out on the chance to surpass their rival in the table.
The upcoming 2026 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be held jointly in Namibia and Zimbabwe during the first two months of the year. The tournament will feature the most promising young talents from across the cricketing world.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed Afghanistan’s qualification based on their performance and net run rate, as per tournament regulations. The weather-affected final match decision was also upheld under ICC rules for washed-out games.
Afghanistan’s U-19 team has previously impressed in global tournaments, and their qualification continues the country’s strong tradition in youth cricket. Their coaching staff and players have expressed confidence in making a significant impact in the 2026 World Cup.
With this qualification, the spotlight turns to preparation, with the Afghanistan Cricket Board expected to arrange intensive training camps and international practice matches to ensure strong performance on the world stage.
