Bangladesh have received a major boost in their bid to qualify directly for the 2027 ODI World Cup after Afghanistan defeated Ireland by three wickets in the third match of their five-match ODI series.
The result has moved Bangladesh into the top eight teams in the ODI rankings, which would currently give them a direct place in the World Cup.
The eight teams currently in line for direct qualification are:
However, Bangladesh's place is not completely guaranteed yet.
Under ICC rules, apart from hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, the eight highest-ranked teams at the September 30 cutoff will qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup. The remaining four spots will be decided through a qualification tournament.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play a proposed three-match ODI series against India in September. The results could affect their ranking position.
If Bangladesh lose the series 3-0, they may have to wait for the final ranking calculations before knowing their fate. If the series does not take place, Bangladesh's direct qualification should be confirmed without much complication.
Another relief for Bangladesh is that West Indies, currently ranked 10th, do not have enough opportunities to collect the points needed to break into the top eight before the September 30 cutoff. They are therefore expected to go through the qualifying tournament.
The 2027 ODI World Cup is scheduled to take place from October 4 to November 21, 2027, in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
So, Afghanistan's win over Ireland has put Bangladesh in a strong position. Now the key question is whether the India series goes ahead—and, if it does, how Bangladesh perform.
