PARIS, June 16, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Two-time champions West Indies and 1996
winners Sri Lanka are among 10 teams competing for the final two spots at
this year's Cricket World Cup in India.

AFP Sport picks out six talking points at the June 18-July 9 qualifying
tournament in Zimbabwe:

Windies, Sri Lanka hoping to avoid embarrassment

Former champions Sri Lanka and the West Indies have both played at every
World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1975, won by the all-conquering
Caribbean side.

The Windies had to come through the qualifier for the 2019 tournament, edging
into the final, where they lost to Afghanistan, to book a spot in England and
Wales.

Sri Lanka, who have impressed in the longest format recently and almost
reached the World Test Championship final, only mustered seven wins from 24
matches to finish 10th in the World Cup Super League table.

They kick off their Group B campaign against the UAE on Monday, after the
West Indies take on the USA in their first Group A game on Sunday.

Nepal bidding for history

The cricket-mad South Asian nation are still yet to reach a World Cup but
have been gradually getting closer.

Nepal finished eighth in the qualifier for the 2019 tournament and came
agonisingly close to reaching last year's T20 showpiece.

They topped their group at the qualifier for that event with three straight
wins, only to lose to the UAE in the semi-finals when a win would have made
history.

Nepal claimed an impressive win over Oman in a warm-up game on Thursday,
chasing down 268 having reduced their opponents to 7-4 with the ball.

Big year ahead for US cricket

The next 12 months promise to be groundbreaking for US cricket as the country
co-hosts the 2024 T20 World Cup along with the West Indies.

Major League Cricket, a six-team T20 league featuring the likes of Quinton de
Kock, Aaron Finch and Jason Roy, will debut in July as the sport attempts to
crack the American market.

Yet to appear at the main tournament, the USA will rely on the runs of Steven
Taylor, Aaron Jones and Sai Mukkamalla and the wicket-taking ability of pace
bowler Ali Khan.

However, Khan is set to serve a two-match suspension for running foul of the
ICC's code of conduct after claiming 7-32 against Jersey in a heated
qualifier play-off in Windhoek.

Talented Tector central to Irish hopes

One of three brothers to captain Ireland at an Under-19 World Cup, Harry
Tector has a crucial role to play if his country is to end an eight-year
absence from the tournament.

The 23-year-old was named ICC player of the month for May, the first Irishman
to win the award, and is seventh in the ODI batting rankings -- averaging
53.33 in 30 innings.

Tector made an unbeaten 149 in a warm-up game this week against the United
States, further underlining his importance to an Irish middle order still in
the rebuilding phase after multiple retirements towards the end of the last
decade.

Scotland aiming to right 2018 wrongs

In the same tournament five years ago, Scotland were on the brink of knocking
out the West Indies and grabbing a place at the World Cup.

But a controversial lbw decision -- with no DRS available -- and rain sent
the Scots tumbling to a five-run defeat on DLS method.

Scotland have qualified for the one-day World Cup three times but have lost
all 14 of their matches at the tournament.

But strong results in recent T20 World Cups, including a surprise run to the
Super 12 stage in 2021, will give them confidence of laying their 2018 demons
to rest in Zimbabwe.

DRS will be used at the qualifier for the first time from the Super Six stage
onwards.

UAE bank on more Khan fireworks

Pakistan-born Asif Khan had to bide his time before qualifying for the UAE
through residency after moving to the country in 2017, combining his playing
duties with coaching children.

The 33-year-old made his international debut last year and starred as the UAE
came second in the World Cup qualifier play-off, finishing as the
tournament's leading run-scorer.

He made 96 in a vital win over Namibia and scored a century in a losing
effort against the USA. However, his most eye-catching knock came in March
when he smashed 101 not out off 41 balls against Nepal -- the fourth-quickest
ODI hundred ever.