After losing the recently concluded three-match ODI series 1-2 against New Zealands, West Indies’ chances of securing a direct qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 looks tough as the Men in Maroons would now have to depend on various other results to go their way.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and New Zealand, following their ODI series victories against Netherlands and the Windies respectively on Sunday, have strengthened their chances for the showpiece event, which will be held in India.
New Zealand’s five-wicket win over the West Indies in the series decider helped them gain a crucial 10 Cricket World Cup Super League points as they maintained fourth place on the standings with a total of 110 points, according to ICC.
On the other hand, the loss saw West Indies completing all 24 of their Super League matches and they now sit seventh on the current standings.
While the Babar Azam-led Pakistan registered a narrow nine-run win over Netherlands in Rotterdam on Sunday and moved equal on points with second-placed Bangladesh as a result of the win. After the result, only net run rate separates Pakistan from Bangladesh now.
On the other hand, England lead all teams on 125 points from their 18 matches played.
Notably, only the top eight teams will qualify directly for the 50-over World Cup in India, and West Indies would need several other results to go their way if they are to remain inside that top eight at the end of the qualification period.
India have a chance to go ahead of fifth-placed Afghanistan when they take on hosts Zimbabwe in the third and final ODI of their series in Harare on Monday.
If the West Indies finish outside the top eight on the standings they will be forced into the Qualifier in Zimbabwe next year, alongside the remaining teams and five Associate sides just to earn their ticket to next year’s 50-over global tournament.
Significantly, West Indies had won the ODI World Cup twice in the year 1975 and 1979 while they had finished as runners-up in 1983.