West Indies must go through qualifiers for 2027 World Cup after Afghanistan beat Ireland
Afghanistan’s three-wicket win secured the final automatic place, sending the Windies to the qualifiers for a third consecutive tournament.
NEW YORK, United States. The West Indies will have to contest next year’s qualifiers to reach the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup after Afghanistan secured the final automatic place by beating Ireland by three wickets in the third One Day International (ODI).
The win gave Afghanistan a 2-0 series lead and ended any hope the West Indies had of qualifying automatically for the 2027 tournament.
The West Indies had needed Ireland to win the series 4-1 or 5-0 to keep their hopes alive.
Third time in the qualifiers
Even two wins in their remaining ODIs against India, which are yet to be played, would not change the position of the 10th-ranked West Indies, who must now enter the qualifiers for a third consecutive World Cup.
The West Indies missed automatic qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup, finishing fifth in the qualifier’s Super Six stage and missing the tournament for the first time.
That absence also ruled them out of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which they last played in 2013.
What comes next
The ICC has not yet confirmed a venue, but the qualifier is scheduled for February next year.
The winner will advance directly to the second round of the 2027 World Cup, while the teams finishing second, third and fourth will contest the Super Series, with its winner also advancing to the second round.
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