After defeat to New Zealand to end their Cricket World Cup Super League campaign, West Indies' hopes of automatic qualification for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 took another blow after they were punished for a slow over rate.

Nicholas Pooran's side were docked two Super League points for falling two overs short of completing their overs in the allotted time, imposed by match referee Richie Richardson even after allowances for the slow rate were considered.

On-field umpires Joel Wilson and Leslie Reifer, third umpire Gregory Brathwaite and fourth umpire Nigel Duguid levelled the charge after the hosts' five-wicket defeat, with Pooran pleading guilty to the offence.

It means the West Indies drop to 88 points, a total unlikely to result in a top eight position at the end of the Super League cycle, and a ticket straight to India.

Ireland (9th on 68 points) have a superior net run rate to the West Indies, and with wins worth ten points, two victories at home to Bangladesh in their series next year would likely result in a higher finish. Waiting to strike, Sri Lanka (10th on 62 points) and South Africa (11th on 49 points) both have multiple series left in the cycle.

A finish outside the top eight would mean West Indies' path to India 2023 would be via the Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe next year.

The bottom five teams of Super League move to the Qualifier, and are joined by the top three finishers of Cricket World Cup League 2, and the top two finishers of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off.

The next Super League action takes place in Australia, with Aaron Finch's side hosting Zimbabwe in Townsville from 28 August to 3 September.

Source: International Cricket Council

BDST: 1016 HRS, Aug 23, 2022
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