In July 2020, Zimbabwe announced their intention to host the qualifier.[4] They had hosted the previous qualification tournament in March 2018.[5] In December 2020, Zimbabwe were confirmed as the tournament hosts.
A fire occurred at the Harare Sports Club on 20 June 2023 behind the southwest grandstand, but no damage took place, and this did not affect the scheduling.[6] The two finalists, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, claimed the last two places at the 2023 Cricket World Cup.[7] Sri Lanka won the tournament, beating the Netherlands by 128 runs in a one-sided final.[8]
All matches in the qualifier tournament were One Day International (ODI) status. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that DRS would be used in the tournament, but only for matches in the Super Six stage and onwards. This was the first time the system was used in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.[9]
A diagram that explains the qualification structure for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup
The top two sides from this qualifier will be awarded a spot in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.[11][12] Originally, it was intended that the top-ranked team in the CWC League 2 (Scotland) could be promoted to the next Super League at the expense of the 13th ranked Super League team (Netherlands); but only if the League 2 winner finished as the higher of the two in this tournament. The team ranked lower would then have played in the next edition of League 2.[12][13] However, in November 2021, the ICC announced that there would not be a second edition of the Super League.[14]
On June 8, Gudakesh Motie was ruled out of the tournament due to a lower back injury and was replaced in West Indies' squad by Johnson Charles.[26] Sri Lanka added Sahan Arachchige, Dilshan Madushanka and Dunith Wellalage as standby players to their squad during the group stage of the tournament.[27] Before the Super Six stage of the tournament, Nyasha Mayavo was added to Zimbabwe's squad to replace the injured Clive Madande.[28]Yannic Cariah was also ruled out of the tournament after the group stages, and Kevin Sinclair replaced in West Indies' squad.[29] Dilshan Madushanka was later added to Sri Lanka's main squad after an injury ruled out Dushmantha Chameera.[30]Lahiru Kumara too was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament during the Super Six stage, and Sahan Arachchige was added to Sri Lanka's main squad to replace him.[31]
Warm-up matches
Ten non-ODI warm-up matches were played on 13 June and 15 June 2023.[32]
The draw for the group stage was announced on 23 May 2023, with Group A was played in Harare and Group B in Bulawayo.[9] The top three teams in each group advanced to the Super Six.[33]
United Arab Emirates won the toss and elected to bat.
Asif Khan (UAE) made the highest individual score in ODIs for UAE.
Super Six
Teams that advance to the Super Six played three further matches against the qualifiers from the other group, with the two results against teams from their own group carrying forward from the group stage. Teams also carried forward their seeding positions from the first stage to determine the fixtures for the Super Six.[56]
Netherlands qualified for the World Cup as a result of this match.
Scotland were eliminated as a result of this match.
Bas de Leede took his first five-wicket haul and scored his first century in ODI cricket. He became the fourth player to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same men's ODI.[62][63]
Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka (2nd title)
Netherlands
