World Cup 2027 qualification scenario [Source: AFP]The T20I season is over, and all the international teams have shifted their focus towards the 50-overs World Cup scheduled to take place next year in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The tournament will start in October, and the finale will be played in November as the top teams will fight it out for the championship.Australia is the defending champion, and alongside India and the hosts, South Africa, they’ll be one of the favourites to win the World Cup 2027. However, qualifying for the marquee event is not an easy task. While some teams will have direct entry in the main event, others will need to go through the qualifying rounds.Top 8 teams get direct entry in World Cup 2027The 2027 World Cup will feature 14 teams, and there are two ways for the teams to qualify for the event in the African region. Path one has the top 8 ICC-ranked ODI sides, and the hosts get direct entry in the World Cup.South Africa and Zimbabwe have already qualified for the event due to being the host nation, and the other top 8 ranked sides will also get a direct entry for the 2027 event.The top eight teams at the end of March 2027 will automatically qualify alongside the co-hosts. That means, if the current ODI rankings come into play, then India, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will have no problem playing the World Cup 2027, since they hold a strong position in the ICC ODI rankings.Also Read: ODI World Cup 2027 Dates Out, Tournament To Run For 48 DaysThe bottom-ranked teams will not directly qualify, but instead, they'll be sent to the Qualifiers, where the sides will battle against the Associate Nations for a place in the World Cup.Danger for England as Bangladesh chase themIn the current ICC ODI rankings, the former World Cup winner, England, is placed at eighth in the points tally, with 89 points in their bag. However, for the first time in ages, the England side is in danger of missing out on a direct qualification for the World Cup.The reason is Bangladesh’;s resurgence as an ODI team. As of late, the Tigers have been outstanding in the 50-overs format, and have recently won series against Pakistan and Australia. Bangladesh have 88 rating points, and they sit one place below England.If the Tigers continue to shine in the ODIs, and England continues to falter, the Asian side will eclipse England in the ODI rankings, and that would mean that the European side will have to play the Qualifiers to reach the World Cup.England, Bangladesh's upcoming ODI schedule in 2026Currently, England is playing a Test series against the New Zealand side, and once that gets over, their next assignment will be a white-ball home series against the touring Indian team. The tour comprises T20Is and ODI games, and England’s next ODI series will commence against India on July 14.Once that is over, they’ll also play ODI matches at home against Sri Lanka, as the Three Lions will aim to win both the series to stay alive in the World Cup race.On the other hand, Bangladesh will play against Zimbabwe in an ODI series, next month, and after that, the Tigers will next feature in an ODI against South Africa in December 2026 as they aim to close the gap with England.Also Read: New Zealand Announce Kane Williamson's Replacement In The Test Team For Last 2 England Tests
.jpg?type=mq "New Zealand Announce Kane Williamson's Replacement In The Test Team For Last 2 England Tests")
