THE WORLD CUP QUALIFIER EXPLAINED GOING INTO THE FINAL GROUP GAMES

What is at stake?

The top two teams at the 10team tournament in Zimbabwe qualify to play at the World Cup in England next year. But that is far from the only thing riding on the event.

There is also one-day international status at stake. Being an ODI nation unlocks a significant tranche of ICC funding, as well as providing the opportunity to actually play official 50-overs internationals.

Full members

West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland will retain Test status, no matter where they finish.

Associate members

Having won the World Cricket League Championship, a 50overs competition that ran from 2015 to 2017, the Netherlands will now enter a new 13-team ODI championship, which features the 12 Test nations. As such, they will retain their ODI privileges, no matter where they finish in the Qualifier. There are three ODI places on offer between Scotland, UAE, Hong Kong, Nepal and Papua New Guinea.

The fourth- and fifth-placed sides in the first-round groups are entered into two rounds of classification matches to decide their final placing in the competition. The two lowest-ranked sides out of Scotland, UAE, Hong Kong, Nepal and PNG are denied ODI status, and will play at World Cricket League Division 2 next year.

The plot so far

Scotland qualified through to the second round – the Super Sixes – first, by winning their opening three matches in Group B. West Indies and Zimbabwe followed them through, with a similar record, after Saturday’s matches.

Permutations for UAE

Today is the final round of group matches. The UAE will clinch their place in the next phase, and confirm ODI status for themselves, if they beat Ireland at Old Hararians.

The national team will still progress if West Indies beat the Netherlands at Harare Sports Club. If Netherlands and Ireland win, the third team to qualify will be decided on run-rate. The UAE’s run-rate is 0.669 superior to the Dutch.