SPORTSAfghanistan clinch 2027 World Cup qualification after Ireland win as West Indies face ODI qualifiers again under new format in South Africa, Zimbabwe and NamibiaCaribbean side failed to ‌seal an automatic spot at the ⁠2023 edition and lost in the qualifiers, resulting in their absence from a men's 50-overs World ⁠Cup for ⁠the first time. (Image for illustrative purposes only: Unsplash)Afghanistan secured automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup with a win over ‌Ireland on Monday, leaving twice champions West Indies to go through qualifiers for the third successive edition of the 50-overs tournament. The top eight teams in the one-day rankings on September ⁠30, excluding co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, qualify directly for the event. The Caribbean side failed to ‌seal an automatic spot at the ⁠2023 edition and lost in the qualifiers, resulting in their absence from a men's 50-overs World ⁠Cup for ⁠the first time. The 2027 event will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.