The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced the groups and schedule for the highly anticipated Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The qualifying tournament will be held in Zimbabwe from June 18, featuring a captivating showdown between ten formidable teams vying for the last two spots in the upcoming ten-team tournament in India.
The tournament consists of two groups of five teams each, with the top three advancing to the Super Six phase. The Super Six stage will see teams competing against opponents from the other group, with the points accumulated against fellow Super Six teams from their original group carrying forward. The top two teams emerging from this phase will secure their places in the main event and will battle it out in a thrilling Qualifier final.
Group A appears to be the tougher of the two groups on paper, with in-form Nepal being the fourth-seeded team among a strong lineup that includes the West Indies, Netherlands, USA, and the hosts, Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Group B is expected to witness Sri Lanka as the frontrunners, facing off against Ireland, Scotland, and Oman, all of whom have earned their spots through impressive performances in previous tournaments.
While the West Indies and Scotland have already made their squads public, some teams are grappling with player availability due to commitments in County Cricket and UK domestic leagues. Richie Berrington’s Scottish side will be without key players such as Michael Jones, Josh Davey, and Brad Wheal due to these commitments. Similarly, the Netherlands is also likely to miss several players. However, talented players like Durham’s Bas de Leede will be available to bolster their respective teams.
The matches will be held at the prestigious Harare Sports Club and the Queens Sports Club, with live coverage provided through televised broadcasts. Additionally, matches at Takashinga Cricket Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club will be streamed via ICC.tv.
Addressing earlier speculation, the ICC has confirmed that the Decision Review System (DRS) will be in place for the tournament. However, DRS will only be utilized from the Super Six phase and onwards, adding an extra layer of excitement and strategic decision-making to the later stages of the competition.
Cricket enthusiasts around the globe eagerly await the Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, as it promises to be a captivating battle for the final two spots in the prestigious ten-team tournament in India. The participating teams will leave no stone unturned in their quest for victory, providing fans with thrilling displays of cricketing prowess and unrelenting competition.
Groups for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier
Group A: West Indies, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Nepal, USA
Group B: Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Oman, UAE
Fixtures
| Sunday, 18 June | Zimbabwe v Nepal, Harare Sports Club West Indies v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Monday, 19 June | Sri Lanka v UAE, Queen’s Sports Club Ireland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club |
| Tuesday, 20 June | Zimbabwe v Netherlands, Harare Sports Club Nepal v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Wednesday, 21 June | Ireland v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club Oman v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club |
| Thursday, 22 June | West Indies v Nepal, Harare Sports Club Netherlands v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Friday, 23 June | Sri Lanka v Oman, Queen’s Sports Club Scotland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club |
| Saturday, 24 June | Zimbabwe v West Indies, Harare Sports Club Netherlands v Nepal, Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Sunday, 25 June | Sri Lanka v Ireland, Queen’s Sports Club Scotland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club |
| Monday, 26 June | Zimbabwe v USA, Harare Sports Club West Indies v Netherlands, Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Tuesday, 27 June | Sri Lanka v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club Ireland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club |
| Thursday, 29 June | Super 6: A2 v B2, Queen’s Sports Club |
| Friday, 30 June | Super 6: A3 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club Playoff: A5 v B4, Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Saturday, 1 July | Super 6: A1 v B3, Harare Sports Club |
| Sunday, 2 July | Super 6: A2 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club Playoff: A4 v B5, Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Monday, 3 July | Super 6: A3 v B2, Harare Sports Club |
| Tuesday, 4 July | Super 6: A2 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club Playoff: 7th v 8 th Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Wednesday, 5 July | Super Six: A1 v B2, Harare Sports Club |
| Thursday, 6 July | Super Six: A3 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club Playoff: 9th v 10 th Takashinga Cricket Club |
| Friday, 07 July | Super Six: A1 v B1, Harare Sports Club |
| Sunday, 09 July | Final, Harare Sports Club |
Official Seedings:
| NO | Country |
| 1 | West Indies |
| 2 | Sri Lanka |
| 3 | Ireland |
| 4 | Zimbabwe |
| 5 | Netherlands |
| 6 | Scotland |
| 7 | Oman |
| 8 | Nepal |
| 9 | USA |
| 10 | UAE |
