Bangladesh face ODI World Cup qualification anxiety

Bangladesh cricket received a timely boost in the shortest format, securing direct qualification for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. However, concerns are mounting over their chances of making the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup without going through the qualifiers.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that the top eight teams from the ongoing T20 World Cup, along with the next four highest-ranked sides in the ICC rankings as of March 9, will qualify directly for the next edition. Bangladesh, currently ranked ninth, have locked in one of those additional spots alongside Afghanistan and Ireland, ensuring their participation in the tournament to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Despite missing the current T20 World Cup, Bangladesh benefited from the ranking cut-off scenario, as they have no scheduled T20 internationals before the deadline. The ICC therefore froze the qualification list based on the present standings. Hosts Australia also secured automatic entry despite an early exit from the group stage.

The teams progressing to the Super Eight phase of the ongoing tournament include India and Pakistan (Group A), Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe (Group B), England and West Indies (Group C), and New Zealand and South Africa (Group D). These sides, along with Australia and the four ranking-based qualifiers, complete the 12 automatic entrants. The remaining eight teams will advance through regional qualifying pathways.

ODI Qualification Worries Remain

While the T20 outlook brings relief, Bangladesh’s ODI future is far less secure. The team currently sits 10th in the ODI rankings and must climb into the top eight by March 31 next year to ensure direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup, scheduled in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify automatically. If either finishes inside the top eight, the ninth-placed team will also qualify directly. However, with Zimbabwe presently ranked 11th, Bangladesh effectively sit outside the automatic qualification zone, increasing the pressure on upcoming fixtures.

The road ahead is challenging. Bangladesh have home ODI series lined up against Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, and India, along with away tours to Ireland and Zimbabwe. Every match in these series could prove decisive in determining whether they secure a direct World Cup berth or face the uncertainty of the qualification route.

For now, Bangladesh can celebrate their T20 assurance—but the countdown to ODI survival has already begun.