The ICC's recent Annual Conference in Colombo resulted in the announcement that the East Asia Pacific (EAP) T20 World Cup Regional Qualifier Final will be discontinued. This decision has sparked disappointment among several Associate members in the region.
In the previous T20 World Cup qualification cycle, teams advanced directly from regional finals in each of the ICC's five development regions. However, for the 2026 pathway, there will be no separate EAP event. Instead, winners from the region's two Sub-Regional Qualifiers, along with current EAP champions Papua New Guinea, will join Asian Associates in a combined Asia-EAP Qualifier. This event will offer three qualification spots for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
It was confirmed that the European and African regions would each have two qualification slots for the 2026 World Cup, while the Americas region would have one, similar to the previous cycle. The EAP region, however, will lose its guaranteed spot, effectively merging with the Asia region for T20 World Cup qualifying purposes.
Reports suggest that the EAP region's Associate Members had appealed to the ICC to reconsider the decision, expressing concerns over the lack of communication and consultation with the directly affected members. The proposal to merge the tournaments had narrowly been voted down in the Associate Members' Committee meeting, but the board meeting did not overturn the decision made by the Chief Executives' Committee (CEC).
Michael Harrison, Chair of Cricket PNG, expressed disappointment, noting that while they were competing in the T20 World Cup against top teams like West Indies, New Zealand, and Afghanistan, their direct regional qualification route has now been removed. He emphasised the need for consultation with smaller regions to ensure their views are considered, hoping for a review of the decision and a more equitable global qualifier structure similar to the women's T20 qualification pathway.
The shift to direct regional qualifying was initially part of an expansion of the T20 World Cup from 16 to 20 teams post-2016. The change aimed to give more prominence to regional finals and align the pathways with Olympic practices, although it was met with opposition from many Associates, including those in the EAP region.
Mark Stafford, President of the Vanuatu Cricket Association, expressed frustration over the decision and the lack of consultation. He highlighted the geographical challenges faced by the EAP region, which spans from South Korea and Japan to the Cook Islands, placing significant strain on their resources. Stafford called for respect and equitable treatment for the EAP region, expressing the collective disappointment of its members.