The ICC ODI Women’s World Cup will be held in India later this year. Two spots remain for the big event with six teams vying for these slots in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan.
As the qualifiers head into the business end, here’s what teams need to do to make the cut.
Will Pakistan play in India if it qualifies for the World Cup to be held in the country?
Should Pakistan qualify for the World Cup, its matches will take place outside of India, according to the hybrid model agreed on by the BCCI and PCB earlier this year.
Pakistan: (3 wins, 6 points, NRR: +0.856)
With three wins in three games and six points in hand, Pakistan is looking set to qualify for the quadrennial event in India (with the venue caveat, of course).
Pakistan beatr Scotland and Ireland comprehensively, by 38 runs and six wickets respectively. The cherry on top was a dominate 65-run victory over West Indies.
Pakistan has two fixtures remaining — against Thailand and Bangladesh. Wins in one or both will put them on course to make it to the finals bracket.
Bangladesh: (2 wins, 4 points, NRR: +1.899)
With two wins in two games — against Thailand and Ireland by 178 runs and two wickets respectively — Bangladesh will fancy its chances. Its big win against Thailand gave a massive shot in the arm to Bangladesh’s net run rate, helping the team climb to second spot in the standings.
Bangladesh’s route ahead, though, is not as straightforward, with West Indies, Scotland and Pakistan standing in its path.
Two wins from its remaining three games will all but guarantee its qualification, but even one win could be just enough should NRR come into play.
Scotland: (2 wins, 1 loss, 4 points, NRR: +0.448)
Scotland has four points with two wins in three games. Its stunning 11-run win against West Indies — a solid thriller — has helped its case massively. Its 58-run victory over Thailand was expected too.
The loss to Pakistan has pegged it back but with Bangladesh and Ireland left to take on, Scotland has its work cut out in terms of what to do to qualify for the World Cup.
Scotland needs to win both to ensure it controls its fate in the qualifiers. Even one loss will bring NRR into consideration.
West Indies: (1 win, 2 losses, 2 points, NRR: -0.526)
West Indies has had a shaky campaign in the qualifiers so far, despite some outstanding brilliance from skipper Hayley Matthews.
A shock loss at the hands of Scotland has upset its cards on the table.
Matthews led the Windies to a thrilling win over Ireland, but its loss at the hands of Pakistan has left the side in a tough spot.
Facing Bangladesh and Thailand in its remaining two fixtures, West Indies will need to win both of them to ensure a chance to qualify for the main event in India later this year. With a weak NRR, it will want big wins in its remaining fixtures to boost its chances to make the World Cup.
Ireland: (0 wins, 3 losses, 0 points, NRR: -0.417)
With three losses in three games to Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh, Ireland’s campaign in the qualifiers is over.
Ireland’s fortunes are not for a want of playing good cricket. Its losses against Bangladesh and West Indies were close affairs — two wickets and six runs respectively. That said, Ireland is yet to earn a point.
Ireland takes on Scotland and Thailand next but no victories in these two fixtures will help it stay in contention.
Thailand (0 wins, 2 losses, NRR: -2.360)
Thailand is yet to open its account in the qualifiers with losses to Bangladesh and Scotland. The former was a 178-run thrashing, which has hurt its net run rate as well.
It has three fixtures left — against West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland. Thailand faces a stern test to try and revive its campaign to make its first-ever ODI World Cup.
