A Cambodian batsman takes on a bowler during an ICC men’s T20 WC Asia qualifying match in Qatar;. Nou Sophal
Despite their failure to claim a spot in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Cambodia’s national cricket team remains optimistic about their chances at the next year’s 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Although their recent performance at the World Cup Asia Qualifiers in Qatar didn’t go as planned, team officials believe the future is bright, with gold medal aspirations still alive for the upcoming regional competition.
Under the leadership of Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), the team sent a 16-member squad to Qatar.
The qualifiers, held from November 17-29, saw the Kingdom’s team win only one match, against Bhutan, while suffering losses to host nation Qatar, Thailand, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite the setback, Nou Sophal, secretary-general of the Cambodia Cricket Federation (CCF), who personally led the team to Qatar, emphasised that the experience gained in the competition would be invaluable for preparing the team for the 2025 SEA Games.
He noted that although they failed to qualify for the World Cup, competing against top-tier teams in Qatar gave the players exposure to international standards and technical improvement.
“Even though we lost five matches and won just one, the technical level of our players is already in line with international standards,” he said.
The Cambodian squad pose for a photograph at Phnom Penh international Airport ahead of their departure to Qatar for the T20 World Cup qualifiers. Nou Sophal
“We are ranked 42nd out of 96 countries in world cricket, which proves our potential. Our performance in Qatar has opened doors for us to participate in other international cricket events organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC),” he added.
Reflecting on their performances, Nou pointed out that the team gained invaluable experience, which will be crucial as they focus on winning gold at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. The team had a strong showing at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023, where they secured three gold medals and one silver on home soil.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Cambodia Cricket Federation plans to bring in experienced foreign coaches to further enhance the team’s skills.
The Cambodian men defeated Bhutan, but lost their subsequent matches during the qualifiers in Qatar. Nou Sophal
“For the 2025 national team preparations, we will hire top-tier international coaches to train our players, ensuring that they are well-prepared to compete for gold in the Southeast Asian Games,” added Nou.
The federation's goal is not only to retain the gold medals won by the men's team in 2023 but also to improve the women's team's performance.
“In 2023, our men’s team won three golds and one silver, but our women’s team did not win any medals. For the 2025 games, we are determined to defend the men's gold and possibly win more, while also boosting the women's team so they can bring home a medal, ideally a gold or at least a silver,” explained Nou.
As Cambodia continues to grow in the sport of cricket, the team’s sights are set on further success, both regionally and internationally, with the Southeast Asian Games in 2025 serving as the next big test for the rising team.
