Photo Credit: Ray Lawrence
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today released the fixture schedule for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.
The event will see 10 teams competing for two spots in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup – the qualifier will be held in Zimbabwe from 18 June – 9 July 2023.
Each match will be high stakes, with teams contesting for two places at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India that gives them nine guaranteed matches at cricket’s ODI global showpiece.
The 10 teams taking part in the qualifier are split into two groups of five teams:
Group A:
• Zimbabwe
• West Indies
• Netherlands
• Nepal
• United States
Group B:
• Sri Lanka
• Ireland
• Scotland
• Oman
• United Arab Emirates
Each side will play the other teams in their group once with the top three from each group progressing to the Super Six stage. In the Super Six, they will play the sides they did not meet in the group stage.
All points won in the group stage will be carried over to the Super Six stage apart from those gained against the teams that fail to make it to the Super Six stage. The two top teams after the Super Six stage will contest the final, and will both progress to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
For the first time in this tournament, DRS will be used for all matches from the Super Six stage onwards.
The Qualifier is the culmination of four years of hard-fought competition that brings together the bottom five teams from the ICC Men’s CWC Super League, three automatic qualifiers from the ICC Men’s CWC League 2 and two teams who gained entry from the ICC Men’s CWC Qualifier Play-off.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said:
“The countdown to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is entering the final stages and this event presents an incredible opportunity for teams to earn a place in the pinnacle event of one day cricket. The stakes don’t get any bigger in what will be a very competitive event enjoyed by fans looking to see who will join the eight teams that have already booked their tickets to India.
“With two former Men’s Cricket World Cup champions among the contenders as well as emerging cricket nations who are aiming to qualify for the first time, this unique event, featuring teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe will be a showcase of the global game.”
Warren Deutrom, Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, said:
“One thing is clear from this Qualifier – the quality and depth of world cricket has grown remarkably in recent years and there are numerous teams in this event that could lay claim to be worthy of a world cup spot, indeed have competed in past World Cups. That all but justifies the need to expand the global tournament in future years – and we are pleased that the ICC has responded to that call.
“We wish Heinrich, Andrew and the squad well as they compete once more on the global stage – these are the occasions that cricketers want to play in, and we all look forward to the squad doing Ireland proud.”
