The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is just around the corner, with England and Wales hosting the tournament from May 30, 2019, to July 14, 2019. It is the first WC in a while that only features 10 teams in the championship, a significant decrease from the 14-member tournaments of 2011 and 2015. Top eight teams from the ICC ODI rankings are automatically qualified to enter the competition, while the remaining two spots were filled through the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. The 2018 WC Qualifier held in Zimbabwe yielded a World Cup spot each for Afghanistan and West Indies, where Afghanistan topped the standings with an impressive win over West Indies in the final. Hence, the final fixture is done and dusted, with no more qualifiers or playoffs contributing to the 2019 World Cup tournament.

On the contrary, preparations for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup seems to be in full swing, as India is all set to host the tournament in its entirety for the first time in the history of the sport. Although the top seven teams in the ICC rankings automatically qualify for the World Cup tournament again, alongside the host nation, the remaining spots will be filled by 2 teams out of a possible 10 competitors. Therefore, the next league in focus is the ICC Division 2 schedule, which kicks off in Namibia next year.

Several new teams are performing exceptionally well in the international stage, but the competition is stiffer than ever before. Online sportsbooks such as Bet365 are keen on joining the action by providing some excellent odds on the lower division matches, particularly those that target the Indian market. A Bet365 India review is an excellent place to start reading up on some of the unique and lucrative aspects of cricket betting, especially if you are on the lookout for a genuine, reliable, and regulated sports betting operator. Cricket-based sportsbooks have received tremendous acclaim in the recent past, despite several controversies that surround the integrity and legality of cricket betting.

The League Division 2 matches have been confirmed for an April 2019 slot, where teams such as Papa New Guinea, Hong Kong, Canada, Namibia, Oman, and the United States will compete to earn an entry into the World Cup League 2. Oman and the USA were recently promoted to Division 2, after claiming the top two spots in the fiercely contested Division 3 tournament. Other Division 3 participants, including Singapore, Kenya, Denmark, and Uganda will lock horns in the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, where they will once again look to qualify for the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers by competing in playoffs against other similar teams that languished in the bottom of their respective league standings.

The new feeder system introduced by the ICC ensures that teams have plenty of opportunities to qualify for a WC spot, provided, they perform well under different conditions. The Division 2 League is an important milestone for the six teams, as the top four will join Scotland, Nepal, and the United Arab Emirates in the World Cup League 2 tournament. The top three teams from the World Cup League 2 will then go on to compete in the 2022 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, where the top two teams will ultimately qualify for the World Cup.

Under the new system, the ICC aims to provide a more level playing field for teams to compete and earn a spot, rather than tailoring a one-size fit all tournament. Therefore, the 2019-21 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 is scheduled to replace all of the existing formats, thereby marking a more convenient approach towards finding a good quality side. All matches in the leagues are played as One Day Internationals, with Nepal, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates earning their ODI status, owing to their performance in the World Cricket League Championship and the 2018 World Cup Qualifier.

The new qualifying process may sound complicated to the fans, but it ensures that there is a whole lot of action in the upcoming two years leading up to the 2023 world cup. Bookmakers and betting sites such as onlinecricketbettingsites.com also keep track of the various developments in the league matches, so that they can offer the best odds and tournament-related sportsbooks for cricketing fans and seasoned punters. It is indeed an excellent opportunity to attract new fans into the sport, particularly in countries where cricket is being followed massively, but are not adequately represented at the international level.

The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup promises to be an incredibly exciting prospect for the billions of fans from around the globe, especially since the recently concluded 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup managed to attract a massive audience to the highest level of the game. However, the 2023 World Cup affair is anticipated to throw a plethora of surprises, as minnows are giving the more established teams a run for their money.

©Cricket World 2018