Contrary to recent speculations, Pakistan and New Zealand will avoid the T20 World Cup qualification process for the 2026 edition, despite their disappointing exits in the 2024 T20 WC.
Early exits affect direct T20 World Cup 2026 spot?
Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar had previously suggested Pakistan might need to go through T20 WC qualifiers for the 2026 tournament, causing a stir amongst fans.
However, the qualification system allows both Pakistan and New Zealand, who suffered early exits, to secure direct entry into the 2026 World Cup.
How it works: Hosts, Super 8s, Rankings
India and Sri Lanka, the co-hosts for the 2026 tournament, automatically qualify alongside all teams progressing to the Super 8s in the current edition. This includes India, South Africa, West Indies, Afghanistan, Australia, and USA.
With one spot remaining from Groups B and D, either Bangladesh or Netherlands, and Scotland or England, will join the list. This brings the total to nine teams.
The remaining three spots will be filled by the highest-ranked nations (excluding the hosts and qualifiers) according to the ICC Men’s T20I rankings on June 30th, 2024. Pakistan (currently 7th) and New Zealand (currently 6th) hold a significant lead over other contenders like Bangladesh (9th) and Ireland (11th).
Qualification Pathway for other teams
The remaining eight teams will be determined through regional qualifiers conducted by the ICC. These qualifiers will see participation from Europe, Asia, Africa, East Asia Pacific, and Americas.
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Conditions to blame?
While Pakistan’s early exit has attracted criticism, former cricketer Rashid Latif defended the team, attributing their struggles to unfavorable pitch conditions. He pointed out the challenges faced by even experienced batsmen like Virat Kohli and questioned the suitability of pitches used in the USA and Caribbean.
Latif argued that the ICC should take responsibility if established teams like Pakistan fail to progress, highlighting the inconsistency in pitch behavior across different venues.
While Pakistan’s World Cup campaign may be over, they can take solace in securing their spot for the 2026 edition. The coming weeks will determine the remaining qualifiers, with the focus now shifting on the crucial Super 8s stage of the ongoing tournament.
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