The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 is set to kick off in Kirtipur on Thursday, featuring Namibia, the Netherlands, and hosts Nepal in the first of 24 tri-series events. This marks the beginning of a competitive journey for four teams aiming to qualify for the 2027 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Following a similar format to the inaugural edition from 2019 to 2023, the competition has evolved from a seven-team format to an eight-team league, with 24 tri-series, each comprising six matches, as reported by the ICC.
Canada, Oman, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America completed the eight-team league, totaling 144 matches leading up to the World Cup Qualifier.
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The team’s placement in the World Cup League 2 and the Qualifier Play-Offs is based on the previous World Cup Qualification cycle. The top four teams from League 2 will progress to the World Cup Qualifier, joining four teams from the Qualifier Play-Offs and others not qualifying automatically based on ICC ODI Rankings.
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The Qualifier, known for its competitiveness, will determine the final four teams to join the 10 direct qualifiers in the 14-team World Cup lineup. Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, along with the top eight ranked teams, will complete the prestigious World Cup roster.
ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley, emphasized the significance of League 2 in team development, stating, “The League 2 fixtures are a very important part of our cricket calendar because they provide a pathway to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 and offer a program of highly competitive cricket around which teams can plan their calendars.”
He also highlighted that League 2 serves as valuable preparation for teams participating in the Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies, offering a diverse cricketing experience leading up to the World Cup in the T20 format.
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