Last Updated on 21 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
West Indies have to take the longer route to the 2027 ODI World Cup after failing to secure a place among the teams that will qualify directly for the tournament. The two-time world champions are currently placed at 10th in the ICC ODI rankings. The top eight eligible teams in the rankings on 30 September 2026 will qualify directly, with hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe excluded from the calculation.
Afghanistan booked their place in the top eight with a narrow win against Ireland in Belfast. Defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh have automatically qualified. The hosts are South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia
The West Indies still have two ODIs against India before the rankings cut-off date. But even two wins in those games will not be enough to see them into the automatic qualification spots.
West Indies to fight in yet another Qualifier Tournament
This scenario means the West Indies will be forced to play in the World Cup Qualifier once again. The tournament will take place from February 22 to March 23 next year, but the host is still to be determined.
The 10 team qualifier features the two lowest-ranked full member nations outside of the hosts as of September 30, 2026. Ireland and the West Indies are in those spots right now.
The West Indies also had to go through the qualifier for the 2023 World Cup. Their campaign ended in disappointment as they finished fifth in the Super Six stage and failed to qualify for the main tournament. It was the first time the team missed an ODI World Cup. Their absence from the 2023 World Cup also meant they missed the 2025 Champions Trophy, a tournament they last played in 2013.
The qualifier winner will earn an automatic spot in the second round of the World Cup in the 2027 qualifying cycle. The second, third and fourth-placed teams will start their tournament in the first round, which will be called the Super Series.
The top team from the Super Series will go through to the next stage of the World Cup, a move heavily criticised by Associate nations.
West Indies’ road to the 2027 World Cup has once again become a lot longer. The former champions must perform well in the Qualifier to secure their place in the biggest ODI tournament.
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