Upcoming three-match ODI series between bangladesh And Pakistan In Dhaka it is more than just a bilateral competition. For Bangladesh, it marks the beginning of an important journey towards securing direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. While Pakistan will view this series as part of its rebuilding process, the stakes are much higher for the hosts, who are looking to improve their position in the ICC ODI rankings before the qualification deadline.
For Bangladesh, each match in this series could have a direct impact on whether they automatically qualify for the tournament or face the uncertainty of the qualifying round.
Understanding the road to 2027 Cricket World Cup
The 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will feature 14 teams. The qualification process is largely determined by the ICC ODI team rankings.
Under the current system, the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings as of March 31, 2027, will automatically qualify for the tournament. However, the situation becomes slightly more complicated as two of the host nations – South Africa and Zimbabwe – are full ICC members and are guaranteed direct entry into the competition.
This creates an important scenario. If Zimbabwe does not finish in the top eight of the rankings by the cut-off date, their automatic host qualification will effectively free up an extra spot for the next highest-ranked team.
Teams that do not qualify directly will have to compete in a global qualifying tournament, where only four additional spots for the World Cup will be available.
The current rankings highlight how intense the battle for those automatic qualification places has become. As of early March 2026, the situation around the critical eligibility area looks like this:
| Post | Team | rating |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | South Africa | 99 |
| 7 | afghanistan | 95 |
| 8 | England | 88 |
| 9 | west indies | 80 |
| 10 | bangladesh | 77 |
| 11 | zimbabwe | 54 |
These rankings show that the battle for the final automatic qualification places is extremely tight.
Bangladesh urgently need to climb up ICC team rankings
For Bangladesh, the ODI series against Pakistan is an important moment. Currently ranked 10th in the rankings, Bangladesh are just behind West Indies and are out of the automatic qualification bracket.
Their situation becomes even more uncertain when the host eligibility factor is considered. Because Zimbabwe will automatically qualify as co-hosts if they finish outside the top eight, Bangladesh effectively needs to finish at least ninth to remain on track for direct entry into the World Cup.
This makes each ODI extremely important in the upcoming series.
If Bangladesh fails to climb into the automatic qualification positions, they will have to compete in a qualifying tournament. That path is extremely unpredictable and challenging. In fact, West Indies failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup after stumbling in the qualifiers, showing how risky this path can be. Avoiding that situation is a top priority for Bangladesh.
The series also marks Bangladesh’s return to ODI cricket after a gap of four months. During that time, the team is reflecting on the recent struggles in the format. They have lost four of their last five ODI series, leading to a drop in their rankings.
Bangladesh will also use this series to address key weaknesses in their ODI game. One area of focus is to strengthen the middle-order batting, which has struggled to convert starts into big scores. Another priority is to improve wicket-taking during the middle overs, a phase where Bangladesh often struggle to control the opposition innings.
The selectors have recalled him to strengthen their batting depth. Liton Das And Afif Hussain To the squad. In particular, Liton is expected to play a key role against Pakistan’s spin attack, especially in familiar home conditions.
Pakistan’s objective from ODI series against Bangladesh
For Pakistan, the stakes are somewhat different. Currently ranked fourth in the ICC ODI rankings, they sit comfortably inside the automatic qualification zone with 100 rating points. Even a disappointing result in this series is unlikely to threaten their World Cup qualification prospects.
However, this series still holds importance for Pakistan as they look to rebuild and experiment after a disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
The team is entering a period of change, many changes have been made in the team. star batsman Babar Azam While it has been abandoned due to recent form Mohammad Rizwan Goes back. will also lead Pakistan Shaheen AfridiWho is expected to guide the team in this transitional period.
Also read: Mike Hesson explains Babar Azam’s exclusion from Pakistan ODI team for Bangladesh tour
