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ICC Unveils New Qualification Pathway For 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup

image-lshk9qp7Scotland team during ICC World Cup 202 Qualifiers (Twitter)

In a major overhaul of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) qualification process for the ICC World Cup 2027, set to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, the ICC has outlined a new pathway for teams aiming for a spot in this high-stakes tournament.


ICC announced major changes to  World Cup 2027 qualification process

With the decision to eliminate the One Day International (ODI) Super League from the next cycle, the qualification process has seen substantial adjustments, particularly affecting the structure and participant composition of the CWC League 2 Championship and the CWC Challenge League groups A and B.

The Netherlands, previously part of the ODI Super League, will now join the CWC League 2 competition. This league will also feature the top five teams from the current cycle's points table and the two best-performing teams from a qualifier play-off tournament held in Namibia in March/April 2023. This tournament was a critical juncture for teams like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada, who secured their spots in the Championship by outperforming Jersey and Papua New Guinea (PNG).


The CWC League 2 Championship for the 2023-2027 cycle will thus comprise eight national teams: Netherlands, Scotland, Oman, Nepal, Namibia, the United States of America, UAE, and Canada. This lineup indicates a competitive series ahead as teams aim for qualification spots in the upcoming World Cup.

In parallel, the CWC Challenge League will maintain its structure of two groups, A and B, each consisting of six teams. This league will welcome the bottom two teams from the Namibia qualifier play-off, joining the second to fourth-placed teams from the 2023 cycle of the Challenge League. From Group A, Denmark, Qatar, and Singapore will continue their journey, while Uganda, Hong Kong, and Kenya from Group B aim to ascend in the ranks.

Furthermore, the Challenge League play-off qualifier is set to feature a diverse roster of teams, including Italy, Bermuda, Malaysia, Vanuatu, Kuwait, Bahrain, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia. The top four teams from this qualifier will be integrated into the Challenge League groups.

This revamped ICC World Cup 2027 qualification pathway marks a huge shift in the ICC's approach to World Cup preparations, aiming to create a more inclusive and competitive environment for cricketing nations worldwide. With these changes, the road to the ICC World Cup 2027 promises to be filled with thrilling encounters and emerging talents on the international stage.