Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh face a stern test in confirming their 
direct berth for the 2027 ODI World Cup given their current situation in the 
50-over format.

Bangladesh qualified directly for the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups by 
meeting ICC criteria. For a long time, they held the seventh position in the 
ODI rankings. However, they have now slipped to 10th, raising a pressing 
question - can Bangladesh secure a direct spot in the 2027 World Cup?

To qualify automatically for the 14-team tournament, a side must be among the 
top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings by the cut-off date of March 31, 
2027. Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify directly. If either host 
finishes within the top eight, the ninth or even tenth-ranked team could also 
earn direct qualification.

However, failure to remain within the required ranking zone would mean 
entering a challenging qualification tournament, a path that even two-time 
champions West Indies failed to navigate successfully for the last World Cup.

According to the current ODI rankings, Bangladesh national cricket team sit 
in 10th place with 74 rating points, just behind the West Indies cricket 
team, who have 77 points.
 
With Zimbabwe already assured of a place as hosts, Bangladesh are effectively 
in 11th position in the race for direct qualification. This means they must 
climb to at least ninth place before the March 31, 2027 cut-off to avoid the 
qualifiers.

The road to direct qualification is therefore complicated. Every series and 
every match will be crucial. Still, there remains ample opportunity and the 
fight effectively begins in March.

Bangladesh have some time to prepare, as they are not participating in the 
upcoming T20 World Cup. Their next assignment is a three-match ODI series at 
home against Pakistan national cricket team on March 12, 14 and 16.

Following that, Bangladesh will host a three-match ODI series against New 
Zealand, Australia and India. They will also travel to play three ODIs 
against the Ireland cricket team and five against Zimbabwe. As these matches 
are part of the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP), they will directly impact 
the ODI rankings.

To gear up for the Pakistan series, the four-team BCL ODI tournament begins 
on February 23. The competition, played in a double-league format across 
Bogura and Rajshahi, will conclude with the final in Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla 
National Cricket Stadium.

Former national selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu believes the tournament will 
play an important role in preparations.

"We haven't played much 50-over cricket for a long time. This tournament 
marks the beginning of that process, which is essentially part of our 
preparation for the 2027 World Cup. I hope to see good-quality cricket," he 
said.

With the Pakistan series ahead and the larger mission of securing direct 
qualification for 2027, Bangladesh are embarking on a crucial new chapter in 
their ODI journey.