The ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 final ended with Nepal lifting the trophy and securing a place in the 2027 Asia Cup, but the high-pressure contest has now produced disciplinary action against three players. UAE players Adeeb Usmani and Khuzaima Tanveer, along with Nepal captain Rohit Paudel, have all been fined for separate Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the sanctions on 15 September, following incidents during the final between Nepal and the United Arab Emirates at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 12 September.
While Nepal eventually won the match by 44 runs, the game also featured a heated exchange between Paudel and Adeeb during Nepal’s innings. The incident resulted in both players being charged under the same section of the ICC Code of Conduct.
What happened between Adeeb Usmani and Rohit Paudel?
The main incident took place during the 31st over of Nepal’s innings. UAE batter and wicketkeeper-batter Adeeb Usmani and Nepal’s Rohit Paudel became involved in a heated argument.
The umpires attempted to calm the situation and instructed the players to move on. However, according to the ICC, both Adeeb and Paudel failed to follow the umpires’ instructions.
As a result, both players were found guilty of breaching Article 2.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which covers disobeying an umpire’s instruction during an international match.
Adeeb Usmani was fined 15 per cent of his match fee, while Rohit Paudel received the same punishment.
Both players admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Ali Naqvi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees. Because they accepted the charges, there was no requirement for a formal hearing.
The incident was particularly notable because Paudel had played an important role in Nepal’s innings. The Nepal captain scored 40 runs from 44 balls, helping his side build a huge total in the final.
Khuzaima Tanveer fined after hitting the stumps
Khuzaima Tanveer was punished for a completely different incident later in the match.
The UAE bowler was dismissed during the 46th over of the UAE innings. After his dismissal, Khuzaima hit the stumps with his bat.
The ICC classified the action as a breach of Article 2.2, which relates to abuse of cricket equipment, clothing, ground equipment, fixtures or fittings during an international match.
Khuzaima was fined 10 per cent of his match fee.
Like Adeeb and Paudel, he admitted the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, meaning the matter did not proceed to a formal hearing.
All three players receive one demerit point
The financial penalties were not the only punishment.
The ICC also added one demerit point to the disciplinary record of each of the three players. Importantly, none of them had committed a previous offence during the preceding 24-month period.
Under the ICC disciplinary system, demerit points remain on a player’s record for 24 months from the date they are imposed.
A player reaching four or more demerit points during that period can have those points converted into suspension points. Two suspension points then result in a ban from one Test, two ODIs or two T20Is, depending on which format comes first for the player.
That means the current one-point penalty does not result in an immediate suspension for Adeeb, Khuzaima or Paudel, but the points will remain part of their disciplinary records.
Nepal won the Premier Cup final by 44 runs
The disciplinary incidents came during an important final for both teams.
Nepal won the toss and chose to bat first at Bayuemas Oval. Aasif Sheikh produced a brilliant century, scoring 102 from 106 balls, while Gulshan Jha added 52 from just 38 deliveries. Paudel also contributed 40 runs.
Nepal eventually posted 313/9 in 50 overs, setting the UAE a challenging target of 314.
The UAE made a spirited attempt during the chase. Rahul Chopra scored an unbeaten century, while Tanish Suri contributed 42. However, Nepal’s bowling attack kept taking wickets at crucial moments.
The UAE were eventually bowled out for 269 in 49.1 overs, giving Nepal a 44-run victory and the ACC Men’s Premier Cup title.
For Nepal, Karan KC was among the key performers with three wickets, while Lalit Rajbanshi took two. Sandeep Lamichhane and the rest of the bowling attack also played their part in defending the sizeable total.
The victory was particularly significant because it secured Nepal’s qualification for the 2027 Asia Cup. According to the ICC, it will be Nepal’s second appearance in the Asia Cup, after their first participation in 2023.
A memorable final with an unwanted ending
The final will primarily be remembered for Nepal’s title-winning performance and its return to the Asia Cup, but the disciplinary action adds another chapter to the contest.
The argument between Paudel and Adeeb showed just how intense the match became as Nepal pushed towards a big total. Meanwhile, Khuzaima’s reaction after his dismissal resulted in a separate breach.
Importantly, the ICC treated all three incidents as Level 1 offences. These are at the lower end of the ICC’s disciplinary framework, with penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a maximum fine of 50 per cent of the player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.
The fact that all three players accepted the charges also meant that the disciplinary process could be completed without formal hearings.
For Nepal, however, the bigger story remains their impressive tournament campaign. Winning the Premier Cup has given the team another opportunity to compete against Asia’s leading cricket nations in the 2027 Asia Cup.
The tournament could therefore become an important step for Nepal’s emerging generation of cricketers, with Paudel and his teammates now having another major international assignment to look forward to.
For UAE, the final was a disappointing ending despite several strong individual performances. Rahul Chopra’s unbeaten hundred was not enough to chase Nepal’s 313, while the team will now have to move forward after the disciplinary incidents involving Adeeb and Khuzaima.
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