Nepal kept their hopes of achieving One-Day International status alive by beating Hong Kong as the group stage of the ICC World Cup qualifiers came to an exhilarating end on Monday(March 12). Nepal's win ensured Afghanistan would qualify to the Super six stage despite winning just one of their four fixtures. Elsewhere, Ireland thumped UAE to confirm their passage too, alongside table-toppers Windies and third-placed UAE. In Group B, Zimbabwe and Scotland made it through with Afghanistan.
Scotland and UAE's success has left Nepal, PNG and Hong Kong in a three-way fight for the last remaining ODI status up for grabs. © ICC
Besides making the tournament proper, which is to be played in England in 2019, the Qualifiers put five teams - Scotland, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, UAE and Nepal - in a tussle. The ones that finish top three amongst them would be granted ODI status for the next four years.
Here's where the tussle is at:
Joy for Scotland and UAE
By the virtue of advancing to the Super six stage of the event in Zimbabwe, Scotland and UAE have achieved ODI status. While Scotland finished second in their group with three wins and a tie, UAE went through with two wins and two defeats.
Hope for Nepal
Scotland and UAE's success has left Nepal, PNG and Hong Kong in a three-way fight for the last remaining ODI status up for grabs. The three teams, and Netherlands, make up the bottom two of both groups. The winners of the two classification playoffs - between Netherlands (Group A, 4th spot) and Hong Kong (Group B, 5th spot), and PNG (Group A, 5th spot) and Nepal (Group B, 4th spot) will square-off in the 7th place playoff, while the losers will play in the 9th place playoffs.
If Netherlands - who achieved the ODI status by winning the World Cricket League Championship - beat Hong Kong, then the last ODI status spot will be awarded to the winner between Nepal and PNG. If Hong Kong win and advance to play in the 7th place playoff, then Nepal and PNG will have to outplay each other to make it to the clash against Hong Kong, and then fight it out for the seventh spot to achieve ODI status.
(CRICBUZZ)