In order to be ready for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, the West Indies and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will face off in a three-match one-day international series in Sharjah in June. The three One Day Internationals (ODI) will be played on Monday, June 5, Wednesday, June 7, and Friday, June 9.
Both sides will depart after the series for Zimbabwe to begin their World Cup qualifying run, which starts on June 18. The competition will determine the final two seats for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will begin on October 5 in India.
With nine victories from 24 games, the West Indies placed ninth in the Cricket World Cup Super League (2020–2023) table. Zimbabwe placed twelveth with six victories from 24 games. Notably, the two countries have only played two one-day internationals (ODIs) thus far, with the West Indies winning both matches. The first ODI took place at the 2015 ODI World Cup.
In March 2023, the West Indies and South Africa played their final series, which resulted in a 1-1 tie. The United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, finished as runners-up in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2023 after falling to Nepal in the championship match by seven wickets.
“This is our first-ever bilateral trip, and we are happy to have consented to this historic three-match ODI series as it will provide our players a good opportunity to warm up before the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Additionally, it will give players who are not traveling to Zimbabwe the chance to gain important international experience in foreign settings, which will be very advantageous to their personal growth and development. Jimmy Adams, Director of Cricket for Cricket West Indies, stated, “We are pleased to work closely with the ECB to organise the three matches and we see this as a partnership that may grow in the future.
“We are excited to host the West Indies before the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe. They are a previous World Championship team. Our side has put up some incredible ODI performances in recent months, which have boosted interest in cricket in the UAE. Our most recent accomplishments are best demonstrated by our qualification for the tournament in Zimbabwe. This series will unquestionably assist in accomplishing our goal of giving our team the greatest possible preparation. The West Indian team will be warmly welcomed. The Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) general secretary, Mubashshir Usmani, expressed gratitude to Cricket West Indies for its ongoing support of the sport’s growth in the UAE.
For the final two seats in the ODI World Cup in 2023, ten teams will compete in the cricket World Cup qualifier.
Instead of the top eight teams who have automatically qualified for the prestigious tournament, the Cricket World Cup qualification will feature the remaining five teams from the Super League standings. The top two teams from the 2023 World Cup Qualifier playoff, as well as the top three teams from the 2019–23 World Cup League 2, will compete in the qualifiers.
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