Nepal national men’s cricket team will kick off their ACC Premier Cup 2023 campaign taking on Malaysia at the TU Cricket Ground on April 18. The opening day will also see Hong Kong face Singapore at the Mulpani Cricket Ground.

The Premier Cup will work as a qualification pathway towards the Asia Cup 2023, to be held in Pakistan in September 2023.

Nepal are pitted in Group ‘A’ alongside Oman, Qatar, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Group ‘B’ consists of the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Singapore and Bahrain.

The winners and the runners-up from each group will advance into the semi-finals. Both the last four matches will be held on April 29.

The final will be played on May 1.

The winner of the 10-team tournament will join Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka—the five full members of the Asian Cricket Council—for the Asia Cup.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are in Group B.

The Premier Cup champions will compete against India and the hosts Pakistan in the Group A matches.