Two-time World champs the West Indies and 1996 World Cup champions Sri Lanka have been drawn into opposing groups for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier that will take place in Zimbabwe between June 18 and July 9.
The ICC revealed the fixture for the crucial three-week tournament on Tuesday, with the West Indies drawn in Group A alongside tournament hosts Zimbabwe, European side the Netherlands, emerging Asian nation Nepal and the ever-improving USA.
Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates form Group B.
Each team plays the other teams in their group once before the top three teams from each group advance to the Super Six stage. In the Super Six, they will compete against teams they did not play in the group round.
All points collected during the group stage will be carried over to the Super Six stage, with the exception of points against clubs who do not advance. They both qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
Queen’s Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo, Harare Sports Club, and Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare will share 34 matches between them, with Harare Sports Club staging the final on July 9. Old Hararians Cricket Club will also host warm-up fixtures.
West Indies Play USA And Sri Lanka Plays UAE In Their Qualifiers Opening Matches Respectively
At Harare Sports Club, hosts Zimbabwe will play against Nepal on the first day of play. Nepal is trying to become the first nation to ever qualify for the World Cup. At Takashinga Cricket Club on June 18, West Indies will also play against the United States.
On June 19 at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo, Group B will feature Ireland taking on Oman and Sri Lanka taking on the UAE.
While Scotland takes on rival Ireland in Bulawayo on June 21 at Queens Sports Club, the Netherlands will begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on June 20 at the Harare Sports Club. The Super Six stage will start on June 29, and the Playoff will feature the bottom two clubs from each group.
DRS will be used for all matches from the Super Six stage onwards, for the first time in the tournament.
Qualifier Fixtures (All matches start at 9:00 am local time)
Sunday, 18 June
Zimbabwe v Nepal, Harare Sports Club
West Indies v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club
Monday, 19 June
Sri Lanka v UAE, Queen’s Sports Club
Ireland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Tuesday, 20 June
Zimbabwe v Netherlands, Harare Sports Club
Nepal v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club
Wednesday, 21 June
Ireland v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club
Oman v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Thursday, 22 June
West Indies v Nepal, Harare Sports Club
Netherlands v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club
Friday, 23 June
Sri Lanka v Oman, Queen’s Sports Club
Scotland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Saturday, 24 June
Zimbabwe v West Indies, Harare Sports Club
Netherlands v Nepal, Takashinga Cricket Club
Sunday, 25 June
Sri Lanka v Ireland, Queen’s Sports Club
Scotland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Monday, 26 June
Zimbabwe v USA, Harare Sports Club
West Indies v Netherlands, Takashinga Cricket Club
Tuesday, 27 June
Sri Lanka v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club
Ireland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Thursday, 29 June
Super 6: A2 v B2, Queen’s Sports Club
Friday, 30 June
Super 6: A3 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club
Playoff: A5 v B4, Takashinga Cricket Club
Saturday, 1 July
Super 6: A1 v B3, Harare Sports Club
Sunday, 2 July
Super 6: A2 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club
Playoff: A4 v B5, Takashinga Cricket Club
Monday, 3 July
Super 6: A3 v B2, Harare Sports Club
Tuesday, 4 July
Super 6: A2 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club
Playoff: 7th v 8th Takashinga Cricket Club
Wednesday, 5 July
Super Six: A1 v B2, Harare Sports Club
Thursday, 6 July
Super Six: A3 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club
Playoff: 9th v 10th Takashinga Cricket Club
Friday, 07 July
Super Six: A1 v B1, Harare Sports Club
Sunday, 09 July
Final, Harare Sports Club
The fixtures are in for this year's @cricketworldcup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe ?
Details ?
— ICC (@ICC) May 23, 2023