Table-topping Kuwait face winless Thailand as Asia Qualifier A resumes in Kuala Lumpur

Kuwait take the best record in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Asia Qualifier A into Thursday's meeting with a Thailand side still waiting for a win

Kuwait sit top of Asia Qualifier A after two wins from two matches, and the manner of them has left the side with a net run rate of 5.723 that no other team in the seven-strong field is near.

Thailand arrive at the Bayuemas Oval in the opposite position. Beaten by seven runs by Bahrain and by seven wickets by Qatar, they are one of three teams still without a point.

The match is the seventh of 21 in a single round-robin that runs to 14 October. The top three sides advance to the Asia regional final in 2027, the next step on the road to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028.

Kuwait's bowlers set the tone

Kuwait's opening win, against Qatar on Monday, was built on 199 for 7, with Bilal Tahir making 32 from 16 balls and Muhammad Umar 32 from 20.

Qatar were held to 141 for 8 in reply. Adnan Idrees, who took 2-22, was named player of the match, and captain Mohammed Aslam returned 2-28.

A day later Mongolia were dismissed for 42 in 14.5 overs. Aslam took 5-19 and Meet Bhavsar 3-4 from 1.5 overs.

Kuwait knocked off the target inside four overs, Ravija Sandaruwan hitting 30 from 14 balls as they won by ten wickets with 99 balls to spare.

Thailand's problem is runs

Thailand have not passed 100 in the tournament. Against Bahrain on the opening day they won the toss, chose to field, restricted their opponents to 104 for 6 and then finished seven short on 97 for 8.

Asif Javed's 3-14 from four overs earned the Bahrain seamer the match award.

The second defeat was heavier. Thailand were held to 76 for 9 by Qatar, who overhauled the target in 12.3 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Chaloemwong Chatphaisan top-scored with 16 from 13 balls in that innings and captain Austin Lazarus made 14 from 19.

The table after two rounds

Kuwait and Bahrain both hold four points from two matches, with Kuwait ahead on net run rate at 5.723 to Bahrain's 1.825.

Bahrain's wins came against Thailand and against Bhutan, whom they beat by 66 runs on Tuesday after bowling them out for 73.

Qatar and Bhutan have two points each. Thailand, Myanmar and Mongolia have none, though Myanmar and Mongolia have played a match fewer.

Every side meets every other once, so a single result can still reshape the order at this stage of the competition.

Malaysia's double-header

Asia Qualifier A is one half of a programme the Malaysian Cricket Association is hosting across three grounds — the Bayuemas Oval, the UKM Oval and the Selangor Turf Club — from 5 to 21 October.

Thirteen teams and 36 matches are involved in all, with the six sides of Qualifier B playing for the other three places at next year's regional final.

"We are honoured to host these important events on the road to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028," Malaysian Cricket Association president Mahinda Vallipuram said. "They provide another opportunity to showcase the ambition, talent and continued development of cricket across Asia."

Every match in both qualifiers is streamed on ICC.tv, and on FanCode in India.

What follows for both sides

Thailand's next assignment is against Mongolia on Friday, the second of the four matches that close out their round-robin.

Kuwait's remaining fixtures include a meeting with Bahrain, the other unbeaten side, along with matches against Myanmar and Bhutan.

Kuwait and Thailand begin at 9.15am local time on Thursday at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.

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