Asia Cup qualifier
The ACC Men's Premier Cup is the Asian Cricket Council's top tournament for associate nations such as Nepal, the UAE and Oman, and the route into the Asia Cup. Associate teams play far fewer matches than full members, so there is less data behind the odds. This hub covers the format, the leading sides, the angles we use and every result.
Updated By Priya Nair, International Analyst
2026 champions
Nepal
Beat the UAE by 44 runs in the final in Malaysia on 12 September 2026. Aasif Sheikh made 102 in Nepal's 313 for 9, and the title put Nepal into the 2027 Asia Cup.
Not online for real money. The Online Gaming Act 2025 bans online money games, which covers betting on the ACC Premier Cup. Free prediction games are allowed, and so is following our picks for fun. Our guide to betting law in India explains the Act.
Predictions
The next ACC Premier Cup is in 2028. In the meantime, these are the next international matches on our calendar.
West Indies tour of India, 2026 · 1st T20I
· 19:30 ISTBharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
India should outscore their opponents by roughly 18 runs on our numbers, a solid buffer over a T20I.
Our pick
India to win
Fair odds
1.54
West Indies tour of India, 2026 · 2nd T20I
· 19:30 ISTJSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi
India should outscore their opponents by roughly 22 runs on our numbers, a solid buffer over a T20I.
Our pick
India to win
Fair odds
1.43
Australia tour of South Africa, 2026 · 3rd ODI
· 19:30 ISTSenwes Park, Potchefstroom
3 games remain after this, so a win would give South Africa the upper hand in the series.
Our pick
South Africa to win
Fair odds
1.69
Tournament review
Ten teams met in Malaysia from 30 August to 12 September 2026. In the semi-finals Nepal beat Oman by 87 runs and the UAE beat Hong Kong by seven wickets. Nepal then won the final by 44 runs for their second title.
Format
In 2026 ten teams played in two groups of five. The top two in each group reached the semi-finals, and the winner of the final went to the 2027 Asia Cup. Associates below this level can work their way up through the ACC Men's Challenger Cup.
It follows the Asia Cup the tournament qualifies for. The 2023 and 2026 editions were played over 50 overs, and 2024 was a T20 event. Always check which format an edition uses before you look at runs lines.
2026 Group A
2026 Group B
Contenders
Nepal and the UAE, on results. They have shared every title, and the UAE have reached every final. Oman and Hong Kong are the next tier, both semi-finalists in 2026.
Champions 2023 and 2026
The only side to win the title twice. Sandeep Lamichhane's leg-spin brought 17 wickets in 2026.
Champions 2024, finalists every time
Reached all three finals. Muhammad Waseem's century won the 2024 final.
Runners-up 2024, semi-finalists 2026
Hosted the 2024 edition and made the final, then lost to Nepal in the 2026 semi-final.
Semi-finalists 2026
Reached the last four in 2026 before losing to the UAE by seven wickets.
Our angles
Familiarity with the venue, how settled each squad is, and what is at stake. Rankings matter less here than in full-member cricket, because associate sides play so few matches.
Associate sides play far fewer internationals, so familiarity with the host venue matters more than it would for a Full Member team.
Sides with a stable core of professional players tend to beat those relying on part-timers, even when rankings suggest a close match.
With an Asia Cup place on the line, knockout games are tense. Nepal still made 313 in the 2026 final, so judge each runs line on the format and the ground, not on the occasion.
Markets
Match winner and tournament winner are the most widely offered. Top team batter and innings runs suit bettors who know each squad, because associate teams lean on a small number of key players.
Check whether the favourite is one of the sides with a record of reaching the knockouts. Games between those sides are much harder to call.
Associate line-ups lean heavily on two or three batters. Find them before you look at the price.
Lines are set on less data than for full members. Check the format first: 50-over and T20 editions need very different numbers.
Nepal and the UAE have won every edition between them. Price any other side against that record.
History
Nepal won the first edition in 2023 and the third in 2026. The UAE won in between, in 2024, and have been the runners-up in both of the other finals.
Priya Nair covers international cricket for Malik Mumbai, from bilateral series to ICC events. Read her profile to see how she builds a pick.
| Year | Host | Format | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Malaysia | 50 overs | Nepal | United Arab Emirates |
| 2024 | Oman | T20 | United Arab Emirates | Oman |
| 2023 | Nepal | 50 overs | Nepal | United Arab Emirates |
Further reading
Guides from the cricket desk that help when there is less data to go on.
What readers ask most about the Asia Cup qualifier, its teams and the law in India.
The Asian Cricket Council's top tournament for its associate members, the countries below Test level. It decides which associates play in the Asia Cup alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the other full members.
Nepal. They beat the UAE by 44 runs in the final in Malaysia on 12 September 2026, making 313 for 9 with 102 from Aasif Sheikh. The win took them to the 2027 Asia Cup.
Nepal, with two titles in 2023 and 2026. The UAE won in 2024 and have reached the final in all three editions.
It depends on the edition. The format follows the Asia Cup it qualifies for: 50 overs in 2023 and 2026, and T20 in 2024, when the next Asia Cup was a T20 event.
In 2026, ten teams played in two groups of five. The top two in each group reached the semi-finals, followed by a third-place play-off and the final. Lower-ranked associates can qualify through the ACC Men's Challenger Cup.
A place in the next Asia Cup. In 2026 the winner qualified for the 2027 Asia Cup, and the top three also qualified for the 2027 Asia Cup Rising Stars.
The next edition is scheduled for 2028. Exact dates and the host are set by the Asian Cricket Council.
Not online for real money. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 bans online money games across India, which covers betting on the ACC Premier Cup. Free prediction games are allowed.
Still unsure? Ask our team
18+ only. Betting involves financial risk.
Associate cricket has less data behind it, which makes confident-looking picks easy to overrate. Keep stakes small, set a limit first, and use the tools in our responsible gambling guide to stay in control.
Predictions, fixtures and the guides that explain how cricket markets work.
