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The Economic Times
The Economic Times

Afghanistan seal 2027 World Cup berth, West Indies to go through qualifiers again

Afghanistan secured automatic qualification for the 2027 ​World Cup with ​a win over Ireland on Monday, ​leaving twice champions West Indies to go through qualifiers for the third successive edition of the 50-overs tournament.

The top eight ‌teams in ⁠the one-day ⁠rankings on September 30, excluding co-hosts South Africa and ​Zimbabwe, qualify directly for the event.

Afghanistan's win in Belfast ensured ​they will finish among those teams, joining Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and ​Bangladesh.

The West Indies are ranked ⁠10th and ‌cannot make up enough ground to ​qualify ​directly despite having two ODIs against India ⁠left to play before the cut-off date.

The ​Caribbean side failed to seal an ​automatic spot at the 2023 edition and lost in the qualifiers, resulting in their absence from a men's 50-overs World Cup for the first time.

They successfully negotiated the qualifiers to play at ‌the 2019 edition.

Under the new format for 2027, the winner of the qualifier ​will advance ​directly to ⁠the second stage of the World Cup, while the teams placing second, third and fourth will play in ​the first round known as the Super Series.

The 2027 event will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The full tournament schedule has yet to be released.

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