Cricket World Cup: Who's in, who could be out

India and defending champions England are definitely in but former winners West Indies as well as South Africa and Sri Lanka could face a long, arduous road to reach the 2023 World Cup.

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AFP Sport looks at who needs what to make the global showpiece being staged in India in October and November.

Who has qualified?

Seven teams have so far booked their places at the 10-team tournament. These are India (hosts) as well as England, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have come through the Super League after each winning 11 or more of their games.

That leaves one place, currently occupied by West Indies, remaining from the Super League with the last two places to be filled by the best two sides at a 10-team qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in June and July.

Sri Lanka, South Africa and Ireland still have a chance to snatch that eighth qualifying spot but Zimbabwe and Netherlands are out of the running.

Wither West Indies?

West Indies, world champions in 1975 and 1979, are currently eighth in the Super League and hold the final qualifying spot. However, they have played all of their 24 games and won just nine, leaving them with 88 points.

They have no further games to play and can be ousted by South Africa, Sri Lanka or Ireland.

To qualify via this route West Indies effectively need Sri Lanka to lose their series with New Zealand, which starts on Saturday, Netherlands to upset South Africa next week and Bangladesh to avoid a whitewash against Ireland in May.

Position: 8th

Points: 88 (Net run rate: -0.738)

Matches to play: 0

Maximum points: 88

South Africa sweat

Of the big sides still sweating, the Proteas are breathing easiest. They are