ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifier: The schedule for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier has been unveiled. It follows the confirmation of the 10 participating teams for the event. It is set to take place in Zimbabwe from 18th June to 9th July 2023. Each match will carry significant stakes. Teams will compete for two coveted spots at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. It will guarantee them nine matches at the prestigious ODI global showpiece.
The 10 teams participating in the qualifier have been divided into two groups of five. Group A comprises of the host nation Zimbabwe, the West Indies, the Netherlands, Nepal, and the United States. Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
In the group stage, each team will face the other teams in their respective group once. The top three teams from each group will then advance to the Super Six stage. There they will play against the teams they did not encounter in the group stage.
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All points accumulated in the group stage will be carried forward to the Super Six stage. It will not include points earned against teams that fail to progress to the Super Six. The finalists of the qualifier will secure their spots in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifiers Venues
The matches will be held across Queen’s Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo, as well as Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare. These venues will collectively host 34 matches, with the final taking place at Harare Sports Club on 9th July. Additionally, warm-up fixtures will be held at Old Hararians Cricket Club.
The opening match of the tournament will feature host nation Zimbabwe against Nepal. The match will be played at Harare Sports Club. Nepal, aiming to qualify for the Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time, will face a formidable challenge. Two-time Men’s Cricket World Cup champions, the West Indies, will also be in action on 18th June against their neighbors, the USA, at Takashinga Cricket Club.
Group B matches will commence on 19th June in Bulawayo. Sri Lanka, the champions of the 1996 World Cup, will face the United Arab Emirates at Queen’s Sports Club. In another match at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Ireland will compete against Oman.
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The Netherlands will begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on 20th June at Harare Sports Club. Scotland will face their rivals, Ireland, in Bulawayo on 21st June at Queen’s Sports Club. The Super Six stage will commence on 29th June, and the bottom two teams from each group will participate in the Playoff.
Will DRS be Available for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers?
A notable addition to this tournament is the implementation of the Decision Review System (DRS) for all matches from the Super Six stage onwards.
The Qualifier represents the culmination of four years of fierce competition, bringing together the bottom five teams from the ICC Men’s CWC Super League, three automatic qualifiers from the ICC Men’s CWC League 2, and two teams that secured entry from the ICC Men’s CWC Qualifier Play-off.
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What did ICC Chief Executive Say about the Event?
Geoff Allardice, the Chief Executive of ICC, expressed excitement about the approaching ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and emphasized the immense opportunity the Qualifier presents for teams to secure a place in the pinnacle event of one-day cricket. With former Men’s Cricket World Cup champions and emerging cricket nations vying for qualification, this unique event, encompassing teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, will truly showcase the global nature of the sport.
Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, eagerly anticipates a thrilling tournament filled with entertaining and competitive cricket. He emphasized the tournament’s potential to showcase Zimbabwe’s cricket passion, the warmth of its people, and the breathtaking beauty of the country’s tourist attractions.