England guaranteed place in 2027 Cricket World Cup but West Indies will have to enter qualifying tournament again

Panic over, England fans - your team will NOT have to qualify for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.

England's drop-off in 50-over cricket had seen them plummet down the rankings and leave them at risk of missing out on automatic entry into next autumn's event in Africa.

However, the rot was stopped with successive come-from-behind series wins - over Sri Lanka earlier this year and then at home to India in July - leaving Harry Brook's men inside the required top eight in the rankings ahead of the September 30 cut-off.

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With South Africa, who are certain of a place as co-hosts, sitting fourth in the standings, ninth-placed Bangladesh also secure direct passage to the tournament proper.

Zimbabwe are in, too, as they are another of the competition's co-hosts.

India, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan - who secured their place with victory over Ireland - are the other guaranteed entrants.

West Indies headed for qualifying tournament once more

That means two-time champions West Indies, ranked 10th, will have to take part in the qualifying event for the third successive 50-over World Cup.

West Indies - World Cup winners in 1975 and 1979 - successfully reached the 2019 edition in England but then lost in qualifying for the 2023 showpiece in India.

The Caribbean side still have two more ODIs, in India, before September 30 but even if they win those two matches, they cannot move into the top nine in the rankings.

West Indies are now headed for the qualifier in February and March, alongside Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, USA and five yet-to-be-determined teams.

Under ​a new format for 2027, the ​winner of the qualifier will advance directly ​to the second stage of the World ⁠Cup, while the teams placing second, third and fourth will feature in the first round known ⁠as the Super Series.

That late switch was criticised in a joint statement from the Scottish and Dutch cricket boards, who accused the ICC of "weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket."

Sky Sports News has contacted the ICC for comment.

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