Schedule confirmed for 2023 Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament

The tournament will determine which two sides will progress to the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India, with West Indies and Sri Lanka among the teams vying for qualification

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The schedule for the final Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament has been confirmed, with big guns West Indies and Sri Lanka in opposite groups.

The tournament, which will determine the final two sides involved in the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India this autumn, will run from June 18-July 9 in Zimbabwe and consist of 34 matches.

Matches will be hosted across four venues in Harare and Bulawayo.

West Indies have been placed in Group A alongside hosts Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Nepal and USA while Sri Lanka are in Group B with Ireland, Scotland, Oman and United Arab Emirates.

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Zimbabwe will host the qualifying tournament [William West/Getty Images]

The group stage will consist of a single round robin, with top three sides in each group progressing to the Super Six stage.

Points will be carried over from the group stage and teams will then play the three teams who qualified from the other group. The top two teams at the end of the Super Six will progress to the final and both will qualify for the Cricket World Cup.

Zimbabwe will kick of the tournament when they face Nepal on June 18.

India, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa have already qualified for the World Cup.

ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice said: "The countdown to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is entering the final stages and this event presents an incredible opportunity for teams to earn a place in the pinnacle event of one day cricket.

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Ireland are one of 10 sides competing for two places at the World Cup [Munir Ur Zaman/Getty Images]

"The stakes don't get any bigger in what will be a very competitive event enjoyed by fans looking to see who will join the eight teams that have already booked their tickets to India.

"With two former Men's Cricket World Cup champions among the contenders as well as emerging cricket nations who are aiming to qualify for the first time, this unique event, featuring teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe will be a showcase of the global game."

Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Zimbabwe Cricket chair, said: "We are looking forward to an unforgettable treat of great, entertaining and competitive cricket, something that is guaranteed considering the quality of the teams participating in the tournament.

"Apart from the magic that the game itself is promising, this event presents us as the hosts with an incredible opportunity to showcase not only the passion for cricket in Zimbabwe but also the warmth of our people as well as the breath-taking beauty of our country and its tourist attractions."

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