Afghanistan has secured automatic qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup after defeating Ireland in the third One Day International (ODI) at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. This victory also gave Afghanistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The win was achieved through a strong bowling performance and a composed finish by captain Rashid Khan.
Rashid Khan played a pivotal role in the victory, first by taking three wickets to help restrict Ireland to 206 runs. He then guided the run chase with an unbeaten 37 runs, ensuring Afghanistan reached the target with more than five overs remaining. His all-round effort earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award. This performance followed his six-wicket haul in the second match of the series, continuing his strong form with the ball.
The first match of the series was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Afghanistan had previously beaten Ireland by 92 runs in the second ODI.
Match Details and Key Performances
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first. Ireland was bowled out for 206 runs in 46.3 overs. During Ireland‘s innings, half of their side was dismissed for 89 runs by the 22nd over. Gavin Hoey top-scored for Ireland with 36 runs from 67 balls, including two fours. He also formed a 76-run ninth-wicket partnership with Jai Moondra, who contributed 31 runs from 33 balls with five fours.
For Afghanistan, Allah Ghazanfar took three wickets for 29 runs, and Rashid Khan claimed three wickets for 44 runs, both proving effective with the ball. Ireland‘s Gavin Hoey also made an impact with the ball, taking four wickets for 34 runs, which was his best performance in ODI cricket. He noted that he drew inspiration from Rashid Khan, describing him as a serious competitor and a very nice person.
In the chase, Afghanistan‘s openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 12 runs, established a 53-run opening stand. Gurbaz maintained his position, scoring 71 runs from 77 balls, including two fours and five sixes. However, Afghanistan faced a challenging situation, losing five wickets for 79 runs, falling to 176 for seven in the 36th over after being 97 for two.
Rashid Khan, with his unbeaten 37 runs from 43 balls, which included four boundaries, partnered with Yamin Ahmadzai, who remained not out on four runs from 26 balls. This 31-run stand for the eighth wicket helped Afghanistan secure the win in the 45th over with three wickets in hand.
2027 World Cup Qualification
This victory ensures Afghanistan‘s direct entry into the 2027 Cricket World Cup. The tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The qualification criteria state that the top eight teams in the ODI rankings by September 30, excluding the co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, automatically qualify. Afghanistan‘s win in Belfast confirms their position among these teams, joining nations such as Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, and Bangladesh.
In contrast, the West Indies, currently ranked 10th, will need to participate in qualifiers for the third consecutive edition of the 50-overs World Cup. They were unable to secure an automatic spot for the 2023 edition and subsequently missed the tournament. The West Indies successfully navigated the qualifiers for the 2019 edition.
The new format for the 2027 World Cup will see the winner of the qualifier advance directly to the second stage. Teams finishing second, third, and fourth in the qualifier will compete in the first round, known as the Super Series. The full schedule for the tournament has not yet been released.
Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah acknowledged the challenging nature of the low-scoring match and praised his bowlers for their adaptability and adherence to plans. He specifically mentioned Yamin Ahmadzai, Rashid Khan, and Allah Ghazanfar for their bowling performances. Rahmat Shah also noted Ireland‘s ninth-wicket partnership and stated that Afghanistan would aim to break such partnerships earlier in future matches.
The win on Monday places Afghanistan 2-0 up in the five-match series against Ireland.
Source: icc-cricket.com
