Although, Sri Lanka’s test form dipped big time in recent months, their ODI team seems to be on route. And, only two wins against India in the ODI series will confirm their participation in the 2019 world cup. Even if Sri Lanka could not win two matches, they will still have fair chance, mathematically.
The cut-off date for direct qualification is 30 September.
Sri Lanka is currently placed eighth with 88 points, 10 points more than the West Indies, which has an unenviable task in its aim of being among the seven top-ranked sides apart from host England to gain direct qualification.
Winning two matches will take Sri Lanka to 90 points while The Windies side will at best reach 88 points even if it wins its one-off ODI against Ireland on 13 September as well as all five matches of its series in England from 19-29 September.
However, a 4-1 win for India will see Sri Lanka finish at 88 points and The Windies could edge it on decimal points if it wins all its upcoming six matches. The Windies side will go out of contention if it loses to Ireland as from there it will at best reach 86 points and remain behind Sri Lanka on decimal points, even if Sri Lanka loses 5-0 to India.
West Indies beating England on their own backyard seems highly unlikely, as the Eoin Morgan led team looks a World champion team.
