SURREY, B.C. - Canada’s road to the 2027 Cricket World Cup now runs through Nepal. After a seventh-place finish in the qualifying league, Canada heads to the ICC Qualifier Play-off in Nepal from December 4 to 21, 2026, one of eight teams fighting for four places in the next stage. It is the only route left.
League 2: where Canada fell short
Canada finished seventh of eight teams in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, with 29 points from 36 matches: 12 wins, 19 losses and 5 no-results. The league’s top four went straight to the World Cup Qualifier: the United States on 49 points, Scotland on 45, the Netherlands on 44 and Oman on 33. The bottom four, Nepal, Namibia, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, drop into the play-off, joined by Italy, Jersey, Kuwait and Uganda from the Challenge League.
(Source: International Cricket Council, November 4, 2026)
The Nepal play-off: December 4 to 21
The play-off is a single round-robin played at two grounds, the Tribhuvan University Ground in Kirtipur and the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground. The top four teams advance to the 2027 World Cup Qualifier, the Global Qualifier, in February 2027, where Ireland and the West Indies join the League 2 top four; that tournament decides the final four World Cup places. Finish fifth or lower in Nepal and Canada’s campaign ends before Christmas.
Canada’s fixtures in Nepal:
- December 5: Canada vs Kuwait, Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground
- December 7: Canada vs United Arab Emirates, Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground
- December 9: Canada vs Italy, Tribhuvan University Ground, Kirtipur
- December 12: Canada vs Namibia, Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground
- December 14: Canada vs Nepal, Tribhuvan University Ground, Kirtipur
- December 21: Canada vs Uganda, Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground
- Canada vs Jersey: date to be confirmed
(Source: International Cricket Council, November 6, 2026)
The 2027 World Cup
The tournament itself is jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21, 2027, with 14 teams and 57 matches, and the final at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The ICC released the schedule and groups on October 1, 2026. Group A is India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and one qualifier; Group B is New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and the second qualifier. The two open qualifier slots are the prize at the end of Canada’s road.
(Source: International Cricket Council, October 1, 2026)
Surrey will be watching
Surrey is home to one of the largest South Asian communities in Canada, and cricket runs deep here, from weekend league matches in Newton and Guildford to families who follow the game ball by ball. India and Pakistan sit in the same World Cup group, and now Canada, the community’s adopted team, has a December of its own: seven matches in Nepal, four places, no second chances. For Surrey’s cricket fans, the World Cup effectively starts on December 4.
The only route left
There is no other path. Canada’s World Cup hopes rest entirely on finishing in the top four in Nepal, and then doing it again at the Global Qualifier in February. Apna News will follow Canada’s play-off results through December.
By Apna News
