2023 World Cup: West Indies' direct-qualification hopes in danger

West Indies were penalised two Super League points for maintaining a sluggish over rate in the third ODI against New Zealand, significantly harming their already tenuous chances of advancing directly to the 2023 men's ODI World Cup.

Even before the commencement of the ODI series against New Zealand, which was their final in the Super League cycle, West Indies stood in sixth place with 80 points. Even though they eventually lost the series 2-1 and reached 90 points, the two-point penalty dropped them to 88 points and a net run rate of -0.738.

On the Super League standings, they are currently in eighth place. The best eight teams, or seven, barring the hosts India, will advance straight to the World Cup, with the remaining teams competing in a qualification round. Ireland, who are currently ninth with 68 points, can finish ahead of West Indies,

if they win even two of the three ODIs they play at home against Bangladesh the following year. This is because they have a better NRR (-0.382), and a series victory is likely to keep them ahead of West Indies in terms of NRR. West Indies are ahead of Australia (eighth with 70 points), Sri Lanka (10th with 62 points), and South Africa (eleventh with 49 points), however there are still several series left in the cycle for the other teams apart from West Indies.

South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Australia each have six, whereas Australia has twelve. All of them have a fair chance of finishing ahead of West Indies, which would advance the world champions from 1975 and 1979 to the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in June of the following year.

Following the series loss, an over-rate penalty in the third One-Day International against New Zealand has hurt their position.

In reality, Australia would be the favourites to advance easily because their three ODIs against Zimbabwe (12th) will begin on August 28 at home.

The bottom five teams in the Super League standings, together with the top three teams from World Cup League 2 and the top two teams from the World Cup Qualifying Play-off, will need to compete in the qualifications after the seven teams [apart from India] have been determined.

The 2023 World Cup Qualifier is all set to begin from 18 June 2023 and will be played until 9th July post which the World of Cricket will witness the 13th edition of the greatest event in the Cricketing World.

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