The Qatar national cricket team is the team that represents Qatar in international cricket. The team is organised by the Qatar Cricket Association, which became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1999[5] and an associate member in 2017.[1]
Qatar made its international debut in 1979, at an invitational tournament that also included Bahrain, Kuwait, and Sharjah (one of the United Arab Emirates). The team's first Asian Cricket Council (ACC) event was the 2002 ACC Trophy in Singapore. For a period during the 2000s, Qatar was one of the top-ranked non-Test teams in Asia – at the 2004 ACC Trophy, the team placed fourth. However, a few years later it was relegated to the second-division ACC events.[6]
Qatar made its first and only World Cricket League (WCL) appearance at the 2017 ICC World Cricket League Division Five event in South Africa. It placed third, enough to secure the team a place in the new 2019–21 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League.[7]
History
International competition
Qatar's international debut came in 2002 at the ACC Trophy, where they failed to progress beyond the first round. A major improvement came in the next tournament in 2004 when they came fourth. This qualified them for the final pre-qualifying tournament for the 2005 ICC Trophy, played in Malaysia in early 2005. They finished fourth in that tournament, thereby dropping off the road to qualification to the 2007 World Cup. They once again competed at the ACC Trophy in 2006, this time finishing in eighth place. They will play in the new Champions division of that tournament in 2008.[citation needed]
2018–present
In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Qatar and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 will be a full T20I.[8]
Qatar made its Twenty20 International debut on 21 January 2019, defeating Saudi Arabia by 4 wickets in the 2019 ACC Western Region T20 at Al Emarat Cricket Stadium, Muscat, Oman.[9]
- Qatar won the toss and elected to field.
- First ever T20I match for Qatar.
Youth cricket
Qatar have fielded sides in regional competition at Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 levels.[citation needed]
Under 15s
The Qatar Under 15 team competed in Asia Cup tournaments in 2002, 2005 and 2006. They failed to progress beyond the first round on all occasions. Even after losing just one game (against Oman) in the group stage of the 2006 competition, they were not allowed to play in the semi-finals as they did not abide by the qualification rules.[citation needed]
Under 17s
The Qatar Under 17 team competed in the Asia Cup for the first time in 2004, where they did not progress past the first round. In 2005, they reached the quarter-finals.[citation needed]
Under 19s
The Under 19 team has participated in Asia Cup tournaments in 2001, 2003 and 2005, reaching the semi-finals on the 2003 & 2005 editions. In the 2001 they came runner up in the plate league. Qatar recently also took part in the U-19 Asia Cup although they had a poor time of it.
Qatar advanced to Asia Division 2 Semi finals of 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup qualification where they lost to Kuwait. They failed to advance from the group stage of Asia Division 2 during 2018 World cup qualification process.[citation needed]
Home ground
West End Park International Cricket Stadium is a home ground of team located in Doha. This is the first cricket stadium in Qatar. In June 2013, the ground was opened for cricket with opening of the Grand Mall Hypermarket on its premise. The stadium can seat 13,000. In December 2013, it was announced the hosting of first-ever triangular women’s One-day and Twenty20 championship in Qatar in January 2014. Women’s international teams from the Pakistan, South Africa and Ireland participated in the seven championship matches. This was the first championship ever to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.[10]
In 2015, the stadium was selected to host 1st edition of Pakistan Super League matches which will be played in February, 2016.[11]
Locations of all stadiums which have hosted international cricket matches within Qatar
Current squad
This lists all players who were in the most recent One-day or T20I squads. Uncapped players are listed in italics
Updated as on 21 September 2023
Qatar v Sharjah 
Saudi Arabia at Al Emarat Cricket Stadium, Muscat; 21 January 2019
Hong Kong at West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha; 1 March 2024
