Major Setback: West Indies National Cricket Team Absent from World Cup for the First Time
HARARE: West Indies Cricket Team Misses Out on Qualification for Cricket World Cup for the First Time
In a surprising turn of events, the West Indies cricket team failed to secure a spot in the upcoming Cricket World Cup, marking the first time in history that the two-time champions will be absent from the prestigious tournament. The team suffered a crushing seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Scotland during the qualifying event held in Harare on Saturday.
Needing a victory to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive, the Caribbean side struggled to make an impact, being bowled out for a modest total of 181 runs in their allotted 50 overs. Scotland, on the other hand, displayed a dominant performance, comfortably chasing down the target with 6.3 overs to spare.
Shai Hope’s men find themselves at the bottom of the Super Six stage in Zimbabwe, with zero points and only two matches remaining. They previously suffered defeats against the hosts, Zimbabwe, and the Netherlands, further hampering their chances of making it to the World Cup.
The absence of the West Indies, a traditional powerhouse in the sport, will undoubtedly be a notable feature of the global one-day tournament, scheduled to take place in India from October 5 to November 19.
Scotland, seeking redemption for their heartbreaking loss to the West Indies in the previous World Cup Qualifier in 2018, where they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the main tournament, achieved their first-ever one-day international victory over their opponents. With two matches remaining against Zimbabwe and the Netherlands, Scotland now sits just two points behind Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, who are vying for the top two spots to secure qualification for the 10-team event.
The Scottish seam bowlers made early breakthroughs, reducing the West Indies to a precarious 81-6 after winning the toss and electing to field. Brandon McMullen, a promising all-rounder, played a pivotal role by dismissing the top three West Indies batsmen—Brandon King, Johnson Charles, and Shamarh Brooks. McMullen finished with impressive figures of 3-32 from nine overs.
Despite a brief fightback from Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd, Scotland’s spinners maintained control over the game. Shepherd’s dismissal for 36, caught brilliantly by Safyaan Sharif off the bowling of Mark Watt, followed by Holder’s lbw dismissal by Chris Greaves three balls later, led to the West Indies losing their last four wickets for just 23 runs.
Holder provided a glimmer of hope for his team by dismissing Scotland opener Christopher McBride from the very first delivery of Scotland’s innings. However, a formidable 125-run partnership for the second wicket between McMullen and Matthew Cross firmly placed Scotland on the path to victory. McMullen, after contributing 69 runs, was dismissed by Shepherd, but by then, the outcome of the match was all but sealed.
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein removed George Munsey with 20 runs still needed, leaving Matthew Cross to guide Scotland to a comfortable victory with an unbeaten 74 off 107 balls.
The West Indies, renowned for their cricketing prowess, had participated in every World Cup to date, emerging as champions in the inaugural editions of 1975 and 1979. Their absence from the upcoming tournament will be a significant departure from tradition.
