Afghanistan secures World Cup qualification
Afghanistan has secured automatic qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup after a three-wicket victory over Ireland in the third One Day International (ODI) at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. This win also established an unassailable 2-0 series lead for Afghanistan in the five-match series. The first match of the series was abandoned without a ball bowled, and Afghanistan had previously defeated Ireland by 92 runs in the second ODI.
The automatic qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup means Afghanistan will make its fourth appearance in an ODI World Cup. The tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The direct qualification criteria for the 2027 World Cup state that the top eight teams in the ODI rankings by September 30, excluding the co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, will qualify directly. Afghanistan’s recent win ensures their position among these top teams, joining nations such as Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, and Bangladesh.
In contrast, the West Indies, currently ranked 10th, will need to participate in qualifiers for the third consecutive 50-overs World Cup. Despite having two ODIs remaining against India before the cut-off date, the West Indies cannot accumulate enough points to secure a direct spot. They failed to qualify automatically for the 2023 edition and subsequently missed the tournament after losing in the qualifiers. However, they successfully navigated the qualifiers to play in the 2019 edition.
Rashid Khan’s all-round performance
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan played a pivotal role in securing the victory and qualification. He contributed significantly with both bat and ball. In the third ODI, Rashid collected three wickets, helping to restrict Ireland to a total of 206 runs. He then guided the run chase with an unbeaten 37 runs, ensuring Afghanistan reached the target with more than five overs remaining. His performance earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Rashid’s strong form with the ball continued from the second match of the series, where he took six wickets. His all-round effort was crucial in sealing Afghanistan’s automatic spot in the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup. During the third ODI, Ireland was bowled out for 206 runs in 46.3 overs. Allah Ghazanfar also contributed with the ball, taking three wickets for 29 runs, while Rashid took three wickets for 44 runs.
During the chase, Afghanistan faced a challenging situation after losing five wickets for 79 runs, slipping to 176 for seven from a comfortable position of 97 for two. Rashid Khan, with his unbeaten 37 runs off 43 balls, which included four boundaries, partnered with Yamin Ahmadzai, who remained not out on four runs off 26 balls. Together, they ensured Afghanistan crossed the finish line without further damage. Ireland’s Gavin Hoey, who top-scored for his team with 36 runs and later took four wickets for 34 runs, almost provided a lone effort for the hosts. Hoey’s bowling figures were his best in ODI cricket, and he mentioned drawing inspiration from Rashid Khan.
Match details and future format
In the third ODI, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first. Ireland’s innings saw half of their side dismissed for 89 runs by the 22nd over. However, a 76-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Gavin Hoey, who scored 36 runs off 67 balls with two fours, and Jai Moondra, who made 31 runs off 33 balls with five fours, helped Ireland reach a competitive total of 206 runs.
Afghanistan’s chase began with an opening stand of 53 runs between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 12 runs. Gurbaz maintained his wicket, but he was the fifth batsman to fall, having scored 71 runs off 77 balls, including two fours and five sixes, when the team score was 149. The team then found itself in a difficult position at 176 for seven in the 36th over before Rashid Khan’s intervention.
The new format for the 2027 World Cup will see the winner of the qualifier advance directly to the second stage of the tournament. Teams placing second, third, and fourth in the qualifiers will compete in the first round, known as the Super Series. The full tournament schedule for the 2027 World Cup has not yet been released.
Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah praised his bowlers for their adaptability and adherence to plans in the low-scoring match. He specifically mentioned the performances of Yamin Ahmadzai, Rashid Khan, and Allah Ghazanfar for assessing conditions early and bowling effectively. Shah also acknowledged Ireland’s ninth-wicket partnership, stating that Afghanistan would aim to break such partnerships earlier in future matches.
Source: icc-cricket.com
