The Qatar National Cricket Team represents the State of Qatar in international cricket. Governed by the Qatar Cricket Association (QCA), the team has been steadily developing its skills and reputation in the global cricketing world. Although Qatar is better known for football and hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022, cricket has quietly grown in popularity—especially among expatriate communities from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.


History of Cricket in Qatar

Cricket in Qatar began as a community sport played by expatriates in the 1970s. The Qatar Cricket Association was founded in 1980 and became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1999. Later, in 2017, Qatar achieved associate member status, marking an important step toward professional international cricket participation.


Performance and Achievements

Over the past decade, the Qatar team has shown promising performances in ICC tournaments and regional competitions:

🏆 ICC World Cricket League: Qatar has competed in several divisions, showing consistent improvement.

🌍 T20 International (T20I): Qatar played its first official T20I in January 2019 against Saudi Arabia, marking its entry into international T20 cricket.

💥 Gulf Cup and ACC Events: The team has competed strongly in the Gulf Cup and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments.

Qatar’s players have often impressed with their discipline and team spirit, bringing attention to the nation’s growing cricket culture.


Key Players to Watch

Some of the standout players who have contributed significantly to Qatar cricket include:

Mohammad Rizlan (Captain) – A dependable wicketkeeper-batsman and one of the team’s most experienced players.

Iqbal Hussain – A consistent performer with both bat and ball.

Khalid Zain – Known for his all-round contributions and sharp fielding.

Tamoor Sajjad – A talented batter who has often been the team’s match-winner.


Development and Future Goals

Qatar’s cricket infrastructure is improving rapidly. The country has developed state-of-the-art grounds, such as the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha, which regularly hosts domestic and international matches.

The QCA is also working on youth academies and school programs to promote cricket among locals, ensuring the sport’s growth beyond expatriate circles.

Looking ahead, Qatar aims to qualify for major ICC events like the T20 World Cup, which would be a historic achievement for the nation.