Bangladesh face uphill battle for 2027 WC qualification directly

Bangladesh face a stern test in confirming their direct berth for the 2027 ODI World Cup, given their current situation in the 50-over format.

Bangladesh qualified directly for the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups by meeting ICC criteria. For a long time, they held the seventh position in the ODI rankings. However, they have now slipped to 10th, raising a pressing question - can Bangladesh secure a direct spot in the 2027 World Cup?

To qualify automatically for the 14-team tournament, a side must be among the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings by the cut-off date of March 31, 2027. Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify directly. If either host finishes within the top eight, the ninth or even tenth-ranked team could also earn direct qualification.

However, failure to remain within the required ranking zone would mean entering a challenging qualification tournament, a path that even two-time champions West Indies failed to navigate successfully for the last World Cup.

According to the current ODI rankings, Bangladesh national cricket team sit in 10th place with 74 rating points, just behind the West Indies cricket team, who have 77 points.
 
With Zimbabwe already assured of a place as hosts, Bangladesh are effectively in 11th position in the race for direct qualification. This means they must climb to at least ninth place before the 31 March 2027 cut-off to avoid the qualifiers.

The road to direct qualification is therefore complicated. Every series and every match will be crucial. Still, there remains ample opportunity, and the fight effectively begins in March.

Bangladesh have some time to prepare, as they are not participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Their next assignment is a three-match ODI series at home against the Pakistan national cricket team on 12, 14 and 16 March.

Following that, Bangladesh will host a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, Australia and India. They will also travel to play three ODIs against the Ireland cricket team and five against Zimbabwe.

As these matches are part of the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP), they will directly impact the ODI rankings.

To gear up for the Pakistan series, the four-team BCL ODI tournament begins on 23 February. The competition, played in a double-league format across Bogura and Rajshahi, will conclude with the final in Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Former national selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu believes the tournament will play an important role in preparations.

"We haven't played much 50-over cricket for a long time. This tournament marks the beginning of that process, which is essentially part of our preparation for the 2027 World Cup. I hope to see good-quality cricket," he said.

With the Pakistan series ahead and the larger mission of securing direct qualification for 2027, Bangladesh are embarking on a crucial new chapter in its ODI journey.