Afghanistan secure 2027 World Cup berth as West Indies miss out

Afghanistan secured automatic qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup after beating Ireland by 42 runs in the fourth ODI in Belfast. Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran scored centuries while Rashid Khan took six wickets in the second ODI, giving Afghanistan an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

The win confirmed their place among the top eight teams in the ICC ODI Rankings on September 30, 2026, the cut-off for automatic qualification. Afghanistan will join Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, South Africa and Zimbabwe in the 2027 World Cup.

West Indies, currently ranked 10th, will miss direct qualification despite having two matches in hand against India. The West Indies will enter the World Cup Qualifier that begins in February 2027, marking their third consecutive appearance in the qualifying tournament.