2018 Asia Cup Qualifier

{{short description|Cricket tournament}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox cricket tournament

| name = 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| administrator = Asian Cricket Council

| cricket format =One Day International and Limited overs (50–over)

| tournament format = Round-robin and final

| host = Malaysia

| fromdate = 29 August

| todate = 6 September 2018

| champions = {{cr|HK}}

| count = 1

| participants = 6

| matches = 16

| player of the series = {{cricon|UAE}} Ahmed Raza{{cite web|url=http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php/tournaments/acc-asia-cup-qualifier-2018/3290 |title=ACC Asia Cup Qualifier Final: Hong Kong Edge UAE in Thrilling Final to Qualify for Asia Cup |work=Asian Cricket Council |access-date=6 September 2018}}

| most runs = {{cricon|UAE}} Ashfaq Ahmed (224)

| most wickets = {{cricon|UAE}} Ahmed Raza (16)

| previous_year = 2016

| previous_tournament = 2016 Asia Cup Qualifier

| next_year = 2022

| next_tournament = 2022 Asia Cup Qualifier

}}

The 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier was a cricket tournament that was held in Malaysia from 29 August to 6 September 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php/tournaments/acc-asia-cup-qualifier-2018 |title=2018 Asia Cup Qualifier |work=Asian Cricket Council |access-date=27 July 2018}} The event served as the qualifier for the 2018 Asia Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/24183708/india-pakistan-asia-cup-match-september-19 |title=India-Pakistan Asia Cup match on September 19 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=24 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/103293/bangladesh-sri-lanka-encounter-to-kick-start-2018-asia-cup |title=Bangladesh-Sri Lanka encounter to kick-start 2018 Asia Cup |work=CricBuzz |access-date=25 July 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://asiancricket.org/downloads/2018/ACC%20CALENDAR%202018.jpg |title=ACC Calendar 2018 |access-date=19 March 2018 |work=Asian Cricket Council |archive-date=19 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319213737/http://asiancricket.org/downloads/2018/ACC%20CALENDAR%202018.jpg |url-status=dead }} The top two teams from the group stage met in the final, with the winner progressing to the 2018 Asia Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php/tournaments/acc-asia-cup-qualifier-2018/3269 |title=Six Countries to Compete in 2018 ACC Asia Cup Qualifier |work=Asian Cricket Council |access-date=30 July 2018}} The fixture between the United Arab Emirates and Nepal on 30 August 2018 was a One Day International (ODI) match.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricket.com.np/2018/07/28/nepal-to-play-acc-asia-cup-2018-qualifiers/ |title=Nepal to play ACC Asia Cup 2018 Qualifiers |work=Cricket Nepal |access-date=4 August 2018}} It was the first time both sides had played each other in an ODI match, with the UAE going on to win the fixture by 78 runs.{{cite web|url=https://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2018-08-31/second-defeat-in-row-dents-nepals-qualification-hopes.html |title=Second defeat in row dents Nepal’s qualification hopes |work=The Kathmandu Post |access-date=1 September 2018}}

The United Arab Emirates finished top of the group stage with eight points. They were joined in the final by Hong Kong, who finished second with seven points, and a better net run rate than Oman, who also finished with seven points.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/844452 |title=UAE, Hong Kong to face off for Asia Cup berth |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=4 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/asia-cup-qualifiers-2018-hong-kong-uae-to-clash-in-final-742253 |title=Asia Cup Qualifiers 2018: Hong Kong, UAE to clash in final |work=Cricket Country |access-date=4 September 2018}} Hong Kong won the final, beating the UAE by two wickets, to qualify for the 2018 Asia Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/845119 |title=Hong Kong hold their nerve to clinch Asia Cup berth |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=6 September 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/hong-kong-claim-famous-win-against-uae-and-qualify-for-the-2018-asia-cup |title=Hong Kong claim famous win against UAE and qualify for the 2018 Asia Cup |work=Hong Kong Cricket |access-date=7 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015222546/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/hong-kong-claim-famous-win-against-uae-and-qualify-for-the-2018-asia-cup |archive-date=15 October 2018 |url-status=dead }} Hong Kong's captain, Anshuman Rath, said afterwards that "all the hard work that has gone in this tournament over the last couple of months really has paid off".{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/845551 |title='The hard work has paid off' – Anshuman Rath |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=7 September 2018}}

Squads

The following teams and squads were selected to take part:

class="wikitable"
{{Cr|HK}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/hong-kong-squad-for-the-acc-asia-cup-qualifiers-2018-%EF%BC%8D-27th-august-8th-september-2018 |title=Hong Kong Squad for the ACC Asia Cup Qualifiers 2018 - 27th August - 8th September 2018 |work=Hong Kong Cricket |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804200907/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/hong-kong-squad-for-the-acc-asia-cup-qualifiers-2018-%EF%BC%8D-27th-august-8th-september-2018 |archive-date=4 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}

! {{Cr|MAS}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cricketmalaysia.com/malaysia-put-seasoned-players-forward-for-acc-asia-cup-qualifiers-2018/ |title=Malaysia put seasoned players forward for ACC Asia Cup Qualifiers 2018 |work=Cricket Malaysia |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823174302/https://www.cricketmalaysia.com/malaysia-put-seasoned-players-forward-for-acc-asia-cup-qualifiers-2018/ |archive-date=23 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}

! {{Cr|NEP}}{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/nepal-announce-squad-for-asia-cup-qualifier-fixtures-decided/ |title=Nepal announce squad for Asia Cup Qualifier, fixtures decided |work=The Himalayan |access-date=18 August 2018}}

! {{Cr|OMN}}{{cite web|url=https://timesofoman.com/article/139366 |title=Cricket: Maqsood to lead Oman at Asia Cup Qualifiers in Malaysia |work=Times of Oman |access-date=6 August 2018}}

! {{Cr|SIN}}{{cite web|url=http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php/tournaments/acc-asia-cup-qualifier-2018/3275 |title=Singapore Team |work=Asian Cricket Council |access-date=23 August 2018}}

! {{Cr|UAE}}{{cite web|url=http://www.emiratescricket.com/whatsnew/Emirates%20Cricket%20Board%20has%20officially%20announced%20the%20team%20that%20will%20represent%20the%20UAE%20in%20the%20Asia%20Cup%202018%20Qualifier. |title=Emirates Cricket Board officially announces team to represent the UAE in the Asia Cup Qualifiers 2018 |work=Emirates Cricket Board |access-date=18 August 2018}}

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Prior to the tournament, Anshuman Rath replaced Babar Hayat as captain of Hong Kong.{{cite web |url=http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/captaincy-change-at-asia-cup-qualifiers-for-hong-kong |title=Captaincy Change at Asia Cup Qualifiers for Hong Kong |work=Hong Kong Cricket |access-date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830073844/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/captaincy-change-at-asia-cup-qualifiers-for-hong-kong |archive-date=30 August 2018 |url-status=dead }} Jhathavedh Subramanyan was ruled out of Hong Kong's squad with injury, and was replaced by Aftab Hussain.{{cite web |url=http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/aftab-hussain-replaces-jhatha-subramanyan-in-asia-cup-qualifiers-squad. |title=Aftab Hussain replaces Jhatha Subramanyan in Asia Cup Qualifiers squad |work=Hong Kong Cricket |access-date=31 August 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Points table

{{2018 Asia Cup Qualifier}}

Fixtures

=Round 1=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 29 August 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|HK}}

| team2 = {{cr|MAS}}

| score1 = 161 (46.4 overs)

| runs1 = Babar Hayat 58 (58)

| wickets1 = Pavandeep Singh 3/13 (10 overs)

| score2 = 162/7 (42.5 overs)

| runs2 = Shafiq Sharif 49 (63)

| wickets2 = Nadeem Ahmed 4/25 (10 overs)

| result = Malaysia won by 3 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154646.html Scorecard]

| venue = Kinrara Academy Oval, Bandar Kinrara

| umpires = Anil Chaudhary (Ind) and Masudur Rahman (Ban)

| motm = Pavandeep Singh (Mas)

| toss = Malaysia won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 29 August 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|NEP}}

| team2 = {{cr|OMA}}

| score1 = 221/9 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Sagar Pun 83 (84)

| wickets1 = Ajay Lalcheta 2/34 (10 overs)

| score2 = 224/3 (48 overs)

| runs2 = Khawar Ali 84* (96)

| wickets2 = Paras Khadka 1/24 (7 overs)

| result = Oman won by 7 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154647.html Scorecard]

| venue = Bayuemas Oval, Pandamaran

| umpires = Viswanadan Kalidas (Mas) and Sarika Prasad (Sin)

| motm = Khawar Ali (Oma)

| toss = Oman won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 29 August 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|UAE}}

| team2 = {{cr|SIN}}

| score1 = 312/8 (49 overs)

| runs1 = Chirag Suri 111 (124)

| wickets1 = Amjad Mahboob 3/61 (10 overs)

| score2 = 97 (25.4 overs)

| runs2 = Chetan Suryawanshi 51* (64)

| wickets2 = Ahmed Raza 6/20 (8.4 overs)

| result = United Arab Emirates won by 215 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154648.html Scorecard]

| venue = UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi

| umpires = Lyndon Hannibal (SL) and Ahsan Raza (Pak)

| motm = Chirag Suri (UAE)

| toss = Singapore won the toss and elected to field.

| rain = The match was reduced to 49 overs per side due to rain.

| notes =

}}

=Round 2=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 30 August 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|UAE}}

| team2 = {{cr|NEP}}

| score1 = 254/9 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Chirag Suri 65 (91)

| wickets1 = Sandeep Lamichhane 4/24 (10 overs)

| score2 = 176 (48.5 overs)

| runs2 = Subash Khakurel 50 (97)

| wickets2 = Ahmed Raza 4/37 (10 overs)

| result = United Arab Emirates won by 78 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154649.html Scorecard]

| venue = Kinrara Academy Oval, Bandar Kinrara

| umpires = Lyndon Hannibal (SL) and Masudur Rahman (Ban)

| motm = Ahmed Raza (UAE)

| toss = Nepal won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes = Sagar Pun (Nep) made his ODI debut.

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 30 August 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|SIN}}

| team2 = {{cr|HK}}

| score1 = 150 (41.2 overs)

| runs1 = Abhiraj Singh 42 (71)

| wickets1 = Nadeem Ahmed 4/30 (8.2 overs)

| score2 = 154/5 (34.2 overs)

| runs2 = Kinchit Shah 47* (72)

| wickets2 = Selladore Vijayakumar 3/27 (10 overs)

| result = Hong Kong won by 5 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154650.html Scorecard]

| venue = Bayuemas Oval, Pandamaran

| umpires = Anil Chaudhary (Ind) and Narayanan Sivan (Mas)

| motm = Nadeem Ahmed (HK)

| toss = Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 30 August 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|MAS}}

| team2 = {{cr|OMA}}

| score1 = 198/8 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Virandeep Singh 74* (110)

| wickets1 = Bilal Khan 3/28 (10 overs)

| score2 = 199/8 (49.2 overs)

| runs2 = Ajay Lalcheta 44* (58)

| wickets2 = Rashid Ahad 4/30 (10 overs)

| result = Oman won by 2 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154651.html Scorecard]

| venue = UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi

| umpires = Buddhi Pradhan (Nep) and Ahsan Raza (Pak)

| motm = Ajay Lalcheta (Oma)

| toss = Oman won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

=Round 3=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 1 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|SIN}}

| team2 = {{cr|OMA}}

| score1 = 215/8 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Anish Paraam 77 (93)

| wickets1 = Bilal Khan 4/40 (10 overs)

| score2 = 216/2 (26.4 overs)

| runs2 = Aqib Ilyas 108 (71)

| wickets2 = Manpreet Singh 1/23 (4 overs)

| result = Oman won by 8 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154652.html Scorecard]

| venue = Kinrara Academy Oval, Bandar Kinrara

| umpires = Batumalai Ramani (Mas) and Ahsan Raza (Pak)

| motm = Aqib Ilyas (Oma)

| toss = Singapore won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 1 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|NEP}}

| team2 = {{cr|MAS}}

| score1 = 188/7 (30 overs)

| runs1 = Aarif Sheikh 64* (48)

| wickets1 = Syazrul Idrus 3/27 (6 overs)

| score2 = 169/9 (30 overs)

| runs2 = Syed Aziz 34 (25)

| wickets2 = Basanta Regmi 3/36 (6 overs)

| result = Nepal won by 19 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154653.html Scorecard]

| venue = Bayuemas Oval, Pandamaran

| umpires = Lyndon Hannibal (SL) and Sarika Prasad (Sin)

| motm = Dipendra Singh Airee (Nep)

| toss = Malaysia won the toss and elected to field.

| rain = The match was reduced to 30 overs per side due to rain.

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 1 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|HK}}

| team2 = {{cr|UAE}}

| score1 = 275/8 (49 overs)

| runs1 = Babar Hayat 107 (105)

| wickets1 = Rohan Mustafa 3/55 (10 overs)

| score2 = 93 (24.5 overs)

| runs2 = Rohan Mustafa 33 (42)

| wickets2 = Ehsan Khan 4/17 (6 overs)

| result = Hong Kong won by 182 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154654.html Scorecard]

| venue = UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi

| umpires = Viswanadan Kalidas (Mas) and Narayanan Sivan (Mas)

| motm = Babar Hayat (HK)

| toss = United Arab Emirates won the toss and elected to field.

| rain = The match was reduced to 49 overs per side due to rain.

| notes =

}}

=Round 4=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 2 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|OMA}}

| team2 = {{cr|HK}}

| score1 = 183 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Mohammad Nadeem 54 (93)

| wickets1 = Ehsan Nawaz 4/39 (10 overs)

| score2 = 25/0 (5 overs)

| runs2 = Christopher Carter 14* (21)

| wickets2 =

| result = No result

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154655.html Scorecard]

| venue = Kinrara Academy Oval, Bandar Kinrara

| umpires = Masudur Rahman (Ban) and Narayanan Sivan (Mas)

| motm =

| toss = Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field.

| rain = Rain stopped play during Hong Kong's innings.

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 2 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|MAS}}

| team2 = {{cr|UAE}}

| score1 = 92 (31.1 overs)

| runs1 = Sharvin Muniandy 16 (21)

| wickets1 = Ahmed Raza 4/28 (10 overs)

| score2 = 93/2 (8.1 overs)

| runs2 = Rohan Mustafa 38* (26)

| wickets2 = Syed Aziz 2/35 (3 overs)

| result = United Arab Emirates won by 8 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154656.html Scorecard]

| venue = Bayuemas Oval, Pandamaran

| umpires = Buddhi Pradhan (Nep) and Sarika Prasad (Sin)

| motm = Rohan Mustafa (UAE)

| toss = Malaysia won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 2 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|SIN}}

| team2 = {{cr|NEP}}

| score1 = 151 (42 overs)

| runs1 = Chetan Suryawanshi 60 (88)

| wickets1 = Lalit Rajbanshi 3/27 (9 overs)

| score2 = 152/6 (28.1 overs)

| runs2 = Anil Sah 43 (32)

| wickets2 = Selladore Vijayakumar 2/33 (8 overs)

| result = Nepal won by 4 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154657.html Scorecard]

| venue = UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi

| umpires = Anil Chaudhary (Ind) and Batumalai Ramani (Mas)

| motm = Lalit Rajbanshi (Nep)

| toss = Singapore won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

=Round 5=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 4 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|SIN}}

| team2 = {{cr|MAS}}

| score1 = 276/9 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Anish Paraam 100 (95)

| wickets1 = Syazrul Idrus 3/51 (7 overs)

| score2 = 247 (49.5 overs)

| runs2 = Shafiq Sharif 93 (101)

| wickets2 = Amjad Mahboob 5/49 (10 overs)

| result = Singapore won by 29 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154658.html Scorecard]

| venue = Kinrara Academy Oval, Bandar Kinrara

| umpires = Anil Chaudhary (Ind) and Buddhi Pradhan (Nep)

| motm = Anish Paraam (Sin)

| toss = Singapore won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 4 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|UAE}}

| team2 = {{cr|OMA}}

| score1 = 208/8 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Rohan Mustafa 71 (104)

| wickets1 = Zeeshan Maqsood 2/21 (5 overs)

| score2 = 195 (47.2 overs)

| runs2 = Aqib Ilyas 43 (43)

| wickets2 = Rohan Mustafa 2/31 (10 overs)

| result = United Arab Emirates won by 13 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154659.html Scorecard]

| venue = Bayuemas Oval, Pandamaran

| umpires = Lyndon Hannibal (SL) and Viswanadan Kalidas (Mas)

| motm = Rohan Mustafa (UAE)

| toss = Oman won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 4 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|NEP}}

| team2 = {{cr|HK}}

| score1 = 95 (37.5 overs)

| runs1 = Aarif Sheikh 18 (53)

| wickets1 = Ehsan Khan 4/15 (7.5 overs)

| score2 = 96/7 (32.3 overs)

| runs2 = Anshuman Rath 52 (81)

| wickets2 = Sandeep Lamichhane 5/27 (10 overs)

| result = Hong Kong won by 3 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154660.html Scorecard]

| venue = UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi

| umpires = Batumalai Ramani (Mas) and Ahsan Raza (Pak)

| motm = Anshuman Rath (HK)

| toss = Nepal won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

Final

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 6 September 2018

| time = 09:30

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|UAE}}

| team2 = {{cr|HK}}

| score1 = 176/9 (24 overs)

| runs1 = Ashfaq Ahmed 79 (51)

| wickets1 = Aizaz Khan 5/28 (5 overs)

| score2 = 179/8 (23.3 overs)

| runs2 = Nizakat Khan 38 (20)

| wickets2 = Mohammad Naveed 2/47 (5 overs)

| result = Hong Kong won by 2 wickets (DLS method)

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1154661.html Scorecard]

| venue = Kinrara Academy Oval, Bandar Kinrara

| umpires = Anil Chaudhary (Ind) and Ahsan Raza (Pak)

| motm = Aizaz Khan (HK)

| toss = Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field.

| rain = Hong Kong were set a revised target of 179 runs from 24 overs due to rain.

| notes =

}}

References

{{reflist}}