Zimbabwe forced into 2020 T20 World Cup Qualifier

Zimbabwe will have to play in a Global Qualifier to book a spot in the 2020 T20 World Cup.

This is after they finished outside the top eight sides which would have inserted them directly into the group stages of the global showcase.
The 2020 format means Zimbabwe will need to finish in the top two of a four-team group in the opening round in order to advance to the Super 12s.

Full members also missing out on a direct spot in the tournament are 2014 champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Ireland. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will however not play in the qualifier but in an opening round to get to the Super 12s.

In addition, four Associates have been fast-tracked into the T20 Global Qualifier by virtue of their participation in the opening round of the 2016 T20 World Cup: Scotland, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Oman. They will be joined by eight other Associates who will advance from five regional qualification finals (Africa, Americas, Asia, East Asia-Pacific, Europe) to take place in the first half of 2019.

The 14-team T20 Global Qualifier is expected to take place in October or November this year at a venue yet to be determined. The top six teams at that tournament will join Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the opening round in Australia.