BD face uphill battle for 2027 WC qualification directly

BSS, Dhaka :

Bangladesh face a stern test in confirming their direct berth for the 2027 ODI World Cup given their current situation in the 50-over format.

Bangladesh qualified directly for the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups by meeting ICC criteria.

For a long time, they held the seventh position in the ODI rankings. However, they have now slipped to 10th, raising a pressing question – can Bangladesh secure a direct spot in the 2027 World Cup?

To qualify automatically for the 14-team tournament, a side must be among the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings by the cut-off date of March 31, 2027.

Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify directly. If either host finishes within the top eight, the ninth or even tenth-ranked team could also earn direct qualification.

However, failure to remain within the required ranking zone would mean entering a challenging qualification tournament, a path that even two-time champions West Indies failed to navigate successfully for the last World Cup.

According to the current ODI rankings, Bangladesh national cricket team sit in 10th place with 74 rating points, just behind the West Indies cricket team, who have 77 points.