2023 ODI World Cup: West Indies’ direct-qualification hopes take a beating
- Over-rate penalty in the third ODI against New Zealand following the series loss has weakened their position
West Indies’ already wobbly chances of qualifying directly for the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup have suffered a big setback after they were docked two Super League points for maintaining a slow over rate in the third ODI against New Zealand.
West Indies were in seventh place, with 80 points, even before the start of the ODI series against New Zealand, which was their last in the Super League cycle. They went on to lose the series 2-1, which took them to 90 points, but the two-point penalty brought them down to 88 points with a net run rate of -0.738.
They are currently in seventh place on the Super League table. The top eight teams – or seven, apart from hosts India – will qualify directly for the World Cup, with a qualifying event determining the other participants.
While that keeps them in the range, Ireland, who are currently ninth with 68 points, can finish above West Indies if they win even two out of the three ODIs against Bangladesh at home next year, because they have a better NRR (-0.382), and a series win is likely to keep them above West Indies on the NRR front.
Australia (eighth on 70 points), Sri Lanka (tenth on 62 points) and South Africa (11th on 49 points) are below West Indies, but have multiple series left in the cycle. Australia have 12 games in hand, Sri Lanka six, and South Africa 11.
That gives all of them a good shot at finishing above West Indies, and push the 1975 and 1979 world champions to the qualifying event in Zimbabwe in June next year.
Australia, in fact, would be the favourites to move up quickly, with their three ODIs against Zimbabwe (placed 12th) at home set to start on August 28.
After the seven teams [apart from India] are identified, the bottom five teams in the Super League table will need to play the qualifiers, where they will be joined by the top three finishers of World Cup League 2, and the top-two finishers in the World Cup Qualifier Play-off. (ESPNcricinfo)
