About the World Cup Qualifier
CricketEurope
- The tournament started in 1979 and was known as the ICC Trophy until 2005.
- Four Test sides, Bangladesh (1997), Ireland (2009), Sri Lanka (1979), and Zimbabwe (1982, 1986 and 1990), have previously won the tournament. Other winners are the Netherlands (2001), Scotland (2005 and 2014) and the United Arab Emirates (1994).
- The Netherlands and Papua New Guinea are the only sides who have featured in all tournaments since 1979.
- For the 2018 event, the West Indies, Ireland, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and winners of the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 make up Group A, while Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and runners-up of the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 form Group B.
- Each side will play the other teams in their group once with the top three from the groups progressing to the Super Six stage.
- The teams each play three Super Six matches against the sides they did not meet in the group stage. All points won in the groups will be carried over to the Super Six stage apart from those gained against the bottom two from each group.
- The finalists will both progress to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, whilst the Netherlands (ICC World Cricket League Championship winners) and the three highest finishing associate Members will earn ODI status for the next four years till 2022.