Nepal national cricket team will take on hosts Zimbabwe in the inaugural match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier on June 18 in Harera, according to the official schedule released by the International Cricket Council on Tuesday.

Nepal are pitted alongside the hosts, West Indies, the United States and the Netherlands in Group A, while Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are in Group B.

Rohit Paudel’s side next take on the US on June 20 and West Indies on June 22 before their final group stage match against the Netherlands on June 24.

The top three teams from each group will progress to the Super Six stage, where they will play three more matches against the sides qualified from the other group. The finalists will progress to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 scheduled to take place in India at the end of this year.

Sri Lanka will face the UAE on June 19 in Bulawayo to kick off the battle in Group B.

Ireland, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe are the bottom five teams of the Cricket World Cup Super League.

Scotland, Oman and Nepal advanced as three automatic qualifiers from the Cricket World Cup League 2, while the UAE and US progressed as the top two teams from the World Cup Qualifier Play off.

Nepal are also scheduled to play two warm-up matches against the UAE and Oman on June 13 and June 15, respectively.