Nepal Women have made history by qualifying for an ICC World Cup event. Their victory over the UAE in the final game of the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2024 secured their place in the 2025 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, marking Nepal Women’s first-ever qualification for an ICC World Cup.
Cricket has deep roots in Nepal, with the women’s game evolving alongside the men’s. Although Nepal has been an ICC Associate Member since 1996 (having previously held affiliate status since 1988), significant achievements have been elusive. The Cricket Association of Nepal was founded in 1946 to popularize the game among the elite, and Nepal was elevated to associate status in 1996. The Nepal Women’s team made its international debut on July 12, 2007, against Thailand in Johor, and played their first WT20I on January 12, 2019, against China in Bangkok.
The men’s team has qualified twice for the ICC T20 World Cup. In 2014, they finished second in their group stage, winning two out of three games but missing further progression. In 2024, they returned to the T20 World Cup but faced challenges, finishing last in their group without a win in four games.
Nepal’s women’s team has demonstrated resilience over the years, particularly in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers. Despite finishing second in the 2016 and 2019 qualifiers, they continued to persevere. Their efforts were also evident in the Women’s Asia Cup, where they placed seventh in 2012 and sixth in 2016. Nepal reached the group stage in the Women’s Asia Cup (2012, 2016, and 2024) and advanced to the quarterfinals in the 2014 Asian Games. Notable achievements include a runner-up finish in the 2007 ACC Women’s Tournament, semifinal appearances in the 2009 and 2011 ACC Women’s T20 Championships, and a bronze medal in the 2019 South Asian Games. However, despite years of hard work, participation in an ICC World Cup remained just out of reach.
In the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2024, Nepal’s Under-19 Women’s team made their mark by topping the table with 10 points and a superior net run rate, securing qualification for both the 2025 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup and the 2024 ACC Women’s Under-19 T20 Asia Cup.
Nepal started their campaign with a prevailing 67-run win over Thailand, taken after by a 108-run triumph over Kuwait. In spite of the fact that they confronted a mishap with a 13-run misfortune to the UAE in their third coordinate, they rapidly recaptured energy, vanquishing Thailand once more by 106 runs and Kuwait by a gigantic 165 runs. In this coordinate, captain Puja Mahato driven from the front, scoring 130 runs and claiming five wickets, altogether boosting their net run rate. In their last clash with the UAE, Nepal confined their rivals to fair 83/9, chasing down the target comfortably in 14.4 overs to secure an 8-wicket win. This triumph tied them with the UAE at 10 focuses, but Nepal’s prevalent net run rate of 3.935 earned them capability, carving their names in history.