The 2023 ICC ODI World Cup will take place in India in just over a year. As per the latest schedule, the 50-over competition will take place next year between the months of October and November. All ten teams competing in the main event must first complete a qualification process, except for the hosts, India. Seven or eight teams will qualify for the tournament through the ICC CWC Super League 2020–2023. The remaining two berths will be determined by the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Let’s look at the qualification scenario and the remaining fixtures.
2020-2023 ICC CWC Super League: Latest Points Table
Thirteen teams have been taking part in the ICC CWC Super League 2020–2023. The participants include twelve ICC full members and the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship winner, Netherlands. The twelve full members of the ICC are: England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ireland. As per the latest standings, Bangladesh are leading the points table with 120 points, while the Netherlands are at the bottom of the standings with 25 points.
ICC CWC Super League 2020-2023 Points Table (Updated: June 19, 2022)
The Qualification Scenarios of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League 2020–2023
India will play in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup competition as a host nation regardless of their position in the Super League. If India finish in the top eight, five teams from the Super League will have to play in the 2023 CWC Qualifier.
Four teams will join the five associate sides to play in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 if India finish outside the top eight in the CWC Super League points standings. Here is the qualification scenario of each team in the ICC CWC Super League 2020–2023.
Bangladesh and England
Bangladesh have won 12 matches out of 18 and they have 120 points at the moment. With six matches to be played, Bangladesh are only one win away from securing a place in the 2023 ICC ODI Cricket World Cup. They don’t even need to win any more matches if Zimbabwe, Ireland, Sri Lanka, and West Indies lose at least one match in their remaining fixtures.
On the other hand, England’s participation for the mega event will all but be confirmed if they beat Netherlands in the final match of the ongoing series. Both Bangladesh and England will likely finish in the top five in the points standings.
Pakistan and Afghanistan
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are in good places in the points standings. Afghanistan is currently in the third position with 100 points, while Pakistan are in the fourth position with 90 points. Afghanistan have 12 matches remaining, and winning at least two of them will almost certainly secure a place in the World Cup.
Pakistan can secure their spot in the main event if they win three of their remaining nine matches. Both teams may not need to win more than one match if the results of other fixtures in the Super League go in their favor.
India, Australia and New Zealand
The Indian team doesn’t need to be worried about their outcomes in the Super League as they will play as hosts. However, India may spoil others’ dreams in the League. India are currently in the sixth position with 79 points.
Australia has 12 matches remaining, and they can secure a spot if they win at least three of them. New Zealand, on the other hand, are the only unbeaten side in the league. They have won six out of six matches. The Kiwi side has 18 matches left to comfortably secure a place in the next World Cup tournament.
South Africa and West Indies
South Africa are currently in a little uncomfortable position with 49 points in 13 matches. They still have 11 matches left and need to win five or six matches to earn a spot in the main event.
On the other hand, the West Indies are in a very difficult position despite currently holding the fifth spot. The Caribbean side has only three matches in hand to secure a spot in the next tournament. Will they be able to earn a spot through the Super League? It seems they have to rely on other results from the league.
Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Netherlands
All four of these four teams are in very critical positions at the moment in the point standings. Ireland and Sri Lanka have 68 and 62 points, respectively, and they have six matches in the league. With the current scenario, they may both need to win their remaining fixtures in their quest for a World Cup 2023 berth.
On the other hand, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands are the bottom two teams in the standings. These two teams not only need to win their remaining fixtures but also have to rely on other outcomes of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League 2020–2023.
ICC Cricket World Cup Super League 2020-2023: Remaining Fixtures
A total of 156 matches will be played in the 2020–2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, with 24 matches to be played by each team. Each team will play a total of eight series, and each series will contain three ODIs. All the participating teams have already played half of their scheduled matches, except New Zealand. The Kiwi side has only played six matches (two series) and they still have 18 matches (six series). Let’s take a look at the remaining fixtures of all thirteen teams.
Bangladesh
The current leader of the CWC Super League points table, Bangladesh, have only two series (six matches) left. They don’t have any series against Australia, India, Pakistan, and the Netherlands.
Remaining series (2): England (March, 2023 / home) and Ireland (May, 2023 / away)
England
England are currently playing a series against the Netherlands, and after that they will play two more Super League series. They don’t have any series against Afghanistan, New Zealand, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe.
Remaining series (2): South Africa (February, 2023 / away) and Bangladesh (March, 2023 / away).
Afghanistan
Afghanistan have already played four series and have four more left in the Super League. Afghanistan don’t have any series against England, New Zealand, South Africa, and West Indies.
Remaining series (4): Pakistan (February-March, 2023 / home), Australia (March-April, 2023 / home), Sri Lanka (January, 2023 / away), and India (TBD / away)
Pakistan
Pakistan have played 15 matches in five series, and they will play 9 more games in three series. They won’t play any series against Bangladesh, India, Ireland, and Sri Lanka.
Remaining series (3): Netherlands (August, 2022 / away), New Zealand (November, 2022 / home), and Afghanistan (February-March, 2023 / away)
West Indies
The Caribbean team has only one series left as they have already completed seven series in the ongoing CWC Super League. The West Indies don’t have any series against Afghanistan, England, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
India
India have played 12 matches but have many series postponed. India will not play any series against Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, or the Netherlands.
Remaining series (4): Afghanistan (TBD / home), South Africa (TBD / home), Zimbabwe (TBD / away), and New Zealand (November, 2022 / away)
Australia
The Australian side has completed four Super League series and they have four left. The Australian team doesn’t have any series against Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sri Lanka.
Remaining series (4): Zimbabwe (August, 2022 / home), New Zealand (September, 2022 / home), South Africa (January, 2023 / home), and Afghanistan (March-April, 2023 / away)
Ireland
The Irish national side has two series left in the Super League competition as they have already played six series. Ireland don’t have any series against Australia, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Remaining series (2): New Zealand (July, 2022 / home), and Bangladesh (May, 2023 / home).
Sri Lanka
The Lankan team has completed six series and they will play two more series in this qualifier competition. Sri Lanka won’t play series against Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Pakistan.
Remaining series (2): Afghanistan (January, 2023 / home), and New Zealand (TBD / away)
New Zealand
New Zealand will have to play six series in the next one year as they have only finished two series so far in the ICC CWC Super League 2020–2023. The Kiwi side has no series against Afghanistan, England, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Remaining series (6): Ireland (July, 2022 / away), West Indies (August, 2022 / away), Australia (September, 2022 / away), Pakistan (November, 2022 / away), India (November, 2022 / home), Sri Lanka (TBD / home)
South Africa
The Proteas national side has played four series and they have remained four more. Their series against the Netherlands was postponed after one match was played. South Africa will not play a series against Afghanistan, New Zealand, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Remaining series (4): Australia (January, 2023 / away), England (February, 2023 / home), Netherlands (TBD / home), India (TBD / away).
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe have three more series left in the Super League. They don’t have any series against England, New Zealand, South Africa, and West Indies.
Remaining series (3): Australia (August, 2022 / away), Netherlands (March, 2023 / home), India (TBD / home)
Netherlands
The Dutch national team is currently playing a series against England. They will play three more series after that, including the postponed series against South Africa. The Netherlands won’t play any series against Australia, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka.
Remaining series (3): Pakistan (August, 2022 / home), Zimbabwe (March, 2023 / home), South Africa (TBD / away)
Way Forward
For the first time ever, the ICC has set up a World Cup qualifying league for the full members. Except for the hosts, India, all Test-status sides must qualify through the ICC CWC Super League 2020–2023. Additionally, one of the objectives of the ODI Super League is to raise the level of competition in the international limited-overs competition.
According to current standings, former champions West Indies and Sri Lanka are in serious danger of failing to finish in the top eight of the 2020–2023 Super League points table. If these two teams don’t place in the top eight in the league’s final standings, they will have to compete in next year’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Source: United News of Bangladesh