Just like in 2018, two-time ODI World Cup winners West Indies must take the route of the Qualifiers in 2023 for securing a ticket to the World Cup, to be held later this year in India.
West Indies will enter the Qualifier high on confidence, having won both their warm-up matches ahead of the tournament.
Captain Shai Hope believes the presence of impact players in the side can help them breeze through the qualifiers anytime.
“Preparation has been going well. As a team, we are focusing on mindset and consistent execution. We have a number of impact players, so any one of them can win us a game at any stage of the tournament,” said Hope to ICC, ahead of West Indies opening their Group A campaign against USA on Sunday.
Two teams will qualify at the end of the ten-team Qualifiers event in Zimbabwe, and captain Craig Ervine thinks it will be a great tournament for his team to play at home.
Rovman Powell smashed a 55-ball hundred to lead the West Indies to a 114-run win over the United Arab Emirates in their final ICC World Cup Qualifiers warm-up match at Harare on Thursday.
Nicholas Pooran (74) gave the West Indies the early impetus it needed in an 82-run stand with Keacy Carty (24) for the fifth wicket.
Powell then struck 105 off 55 balls to put on 139 runs for the eighth wicket with Keemo Paul (54) to drive the West Indies to 374 for 9 in their 50 overs.
Mohammad Jawadullah took 3 for 50, while Karthik Meiyappan had 2 for 51 for the UAE.
The UAE gave a good account of themselves with Basil Hameed hitting 122 not out, but the innings failed to keep pace with the required run rate after Hameed’s 84-run partnership with Vritya Aravind (54) ended.
Yannic Cariah took a career-best 4 for 58 as West Indies restricted the UAE to 260 for 9 in their 50 overs.
Jason Holder had 2 for 26, while Akeal Hosein was economical with 0 for 16 in his seven overs.
West Indies also beat Scotland by 91 runs in another official warm-up match on 13 June. The West Indies were drawn in Group A along with Nepal, the Netherlands, the USA, and hosts Zimbabwe.
west indies open their campaign to book a place in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup against the USA on 18 June at Harare.