Kathmandu: Nepal completed a flawless campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia and EAP Qualifiers lifting the ICC trophy after a decade with a commanding 124-run victory over Samoa on Friday.

Sent in to bat first, openers Aasif Sheikh and Dipendra Singh Airee struck fine half-centuries to propel Nepal to a formidable 212-4, their highest total of the tournament, before restricting the island nation to 87-7 at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman.

Aasif Sheikh plays a stroke: Photos Courtesy: CAN

Having already secured qualification for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, Nepal finished the Super Six stage with a perfect 10 points from five matches, adding to their double victories in the group stage.

Nepal’s last ICC silverware came in 2014, when they triumphed in the ICC World Cricket League Division Three in Malaysia.

The final also marked a first for Nepal in the ongoing campaign—two players registering half-centuries in the same innings.

Aasif Sheikh anchored the innings with a composed 69 off 41 balls, laced with seven fours and four sixes, before falling as the second wicket in the 13th over. He shared a solid 63-run opening stand with Kushal Bhurtel, who added 17 off 15 balls.

Batting at number three, Dipendra Singh Airee followed with a powerful 53 off 33 deliveries, featuring two fours and four sixes, before being caught by Samson Sola off Daniel Burgess.

Down the order, Lokesh Bam produced a fiery cameo smashing an unbeaten 39 off just 12 balls including two boundaries and four sixes, while skipper Rohit Paudel chipped in with a brisk 21 off 12.

Samoa’s bowling unit shared the spoils, with Daniel Burgess, Saumani Tiai, Darius Visser, and Noah Mead taking one wicket each.

In reply, Samoa’s chase never gathered momentum. Opener Sean Solia top-scored with 40 off 37 balls, hitting two fours and a six, before being caught by Sandeep Lamichhane off Lalit Rajbanshi. Benjamin Mailta (11) was the only other batter to reach double figures.

Rajbanshi starred with the ball, returning impressive figures of 3-13 from four overs including a maiden. Karan KC, Lamichhane, and Paudel claimed a wicket apiece.

With Nepal, Oman, and the UAE already booking their berths for the 2026 T20 World Cup as the top three sides from the nine-team qualifiers, Nepal emerged as the only unbeaten team—capping off their campaign with a perfect record and a long-awaited ICC title.