DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):
The West Indies’ hopes of securing home advantage for next year’s World Cup Qualifiers have been dashed after the ICC revealed that South Africa and Namibia will co-host the event in February.
According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, the qualifiers are scheduled to run from February 26 to March 21 and will feature 10 teams competing for the four remaining places at the World Cup.
The ICC had previously advised prospective participants that the tournament would be played from February 22 to March 23. However, the revised dates were confirmed during the ICC’s meetings in Dubai last week.
While venues were not officially announced at the time, several officials familiar with the discussions told Cricinfo that the ICC had finalised South Africa and Namibia as co-hosts.
Alongside the West Indies and Ireland, the competition will feature the top four teams from World Cricket League Division 2 (WCL 2), currently Scotland, the United States, the Netherlands and Oman.
The remaining four places will be filled by teams advancing from a World Cup Qualifier Playoff, which is scheduled to be played from December 1 to 22 at a venue yet to be announced.
Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe received automatic qualification for the World Cup, along with the next eight highest-ranked teams.
They are India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh
Source: jamaica-gleaner.com
