Bangladesh's road to 2027 ODI World Cup all but certain

Bangladesh are all but certain to qualify directly for the 2027 ODI World Cup after Afghanistan’s 92-run win over Ireland in the second ODI of their five-match series on Friday -- a result that also left West Indies on the brink of having to play the qualifiers.

According to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) sources, the Tigers are already “unofficially qualified” for the tournament based on the current ICC ODI rankings.

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The two hosts -- South Africa and Zimbabwe -- will qualify directly alongside the eight best-ranked ODI sides. With South Africa currently third in the ICC rankings, the ninth-ranked team after the September 30 cut-off date will also gain direct qualification. Bangladesh are currently ninth.

West Indies have two more ODIs to play before the cut-off date during their upcoming white-ball tour of India, comprising three ODIs and five T20Is. However, even victories in the first two ODIs, scheduled for September 27 and 30, will not be enough for them to leapfrog Bangladesh.

West Indies are currently 10th in the standings on 77 points, behind Bangladesh on 83 and Afghanistan on 90.

“We have a six-point gap with West Indies. According to the draft, West Indies have two matches and we have three matches [against India] before the cut-off date. West Indies can gain four points from those two matches. So technically, we are through,” a BCB official said.

Bangladesh were scheduled to host India in three ODIs on September 1, 3 and 6, but the fate of the white-ball series remains uncertain.

“We have all the intention to hold the series, but there is nothing concrete at the moment,” a BCB top official said on condition of anonymity.

The possibility of rescheduling the series has also been discussed at the BCB, although an official admitted it could be difficult to find suitable dates given both teams’ packed schedules.

“The intention is there [to hold the series]. But we also have to consider that Bangladesh have schedules and India as well later on. So the schedules need to match,” a BCB high-up told The Daily Star.

Even if the India series takes place before the cut-off date, Bangladesh are likely to lose fewer points because of India’s higher ranking. India are currently top of the ODI standings.

Had Ireland beaten Afghanistan to win the ongoing five-match series 4-1 or 5-0, two West Indies victories against India could have been enough to lift them into the top eight. But after the first ODI was abandoned, Afghanistan’s 92-run win in the second match has left West Indies all but certain to face the qualifiers.

West Indies have twice missed out on direct qualification for the 50-over World Cup -- in 2019 and 2023. Although they qualified for the tournament proper in 2019, they failed to make it through the qualifiers for the 2023 edition in India.