ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A 2024/25

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A is a sub-regional cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It serves as the first stage of the Asian qualification pathway for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The tournament was established in its current 'Sub-Regional' format for the 2021 qualification cycle (held in 2021), replacing earlier division-based systems.

Prior to 2021, Asian qualification involved single tournaments or divisions (e.g., Asia 'B' Qualifier). The 'Asia Qualifier A' specifically groups teams primarily from East and Southeast Asia, distinguishing it from 'Asia Qualifier B', which features teams from West Asia and the Middle East.

In the 2024 cycle (for the 2026 World Cup), the tournament was held in Malaysia from August 30 to September 9, 2024. It featured seven teams: Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Singapore. The format was a single round-robin league. The top two teams from the standings advanced to the Asia Qualifier Final (the next stage). Hong Kong topped the group, and Singapore finished second, both advancing. Malaysia finished third.

In the 2023 cycle (for the 2024 World Cup), Asia Qualifier A was held in Qatar with four teams (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Maldives) in a double round-robin format; Kuwait won and advanced. In the 2021 cycle, Group A (Western Asia) was held in Qatar with five teams (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar, Saudi Arabia); Bahrain topped the group.

The key distinction of Asia Qualifier A is its geographic composition and its role as a preliminary stage. Winning the tournament does not grant direct entry to the T20 World Cup; instead, it grants entry to the Asia Qualifier Final. The winner of the Asia Qualifier Final (along with the runner-up, depending on the cycle's allocation) qualifies for the T20 World Cup or the Global Qualifier. For the 2024 cycle, the Asia Qualifier Final was held in late 2024/early 2025, where Oman and Nepal qualified for the 2024 World Cup (note: timeline discrepancy in sources regarding 2024 vs 2026 cycles, but the structural hierarchy remains: Sub-Regional A/B -> Regional Final -> World Cup). The tournament sits below the main T20 World Cup and the Asia Regional Final in the pyramid. There is no formal relegation from Asia Qualifier A to a lower tier in the same cycle, as it is a closed group of invited associate members for that specific window. Notable history includes the cancellation of the 2021 Group B tournament due to COVID-19, with Hong Kong advancing as the highest-ranked team. The structure has evolved from 'Sub-Regional' to 'Qualifier A/B' branding, often merging with East Asia-Pacific (EAP) qualifiers in broader regional finals.