Two-time men’s ODI World Cup champions West Indies will once again have to fight their way into the tournament after failing to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

The West Indies, currently ranked 10th in the ICC ODI rankings, cannot break into the automatic qualification places before the September 30 cut-off, even if they beat India in their two remaining ODIs.

That means the Caribbean side will have to go through the World Cup Qualifier in February next year for a chance to reach the 2027 showpiece in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

It is a familiar situation for the West Indies, who also missed out on direct qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

They finished fifth in the Super Six stage of that Qualifier, becoming the first West Indies team to miss an ODI World Cup.

Their absence from that tournament also cost them a place at the 2025 Champions Trophy.

The 2027 Qualifier will feature ten teams, with the winner gaining direct entry to the second round of the World Cup, while the teams finishing second through fourth will enter a Super Series for another route to the tournament.