Afghanistan qualify for 2027 ODI World Cup with thriller win over Ireland

Afghanistan have secured their place at the 2027 ODI World Cup in Southern Africa after edging past Ireland in a gripping third ODI in Belfast. The victory, completed in the 45th over, gave Afghanistan a 2-1 lead in the five-match series and confirmed their berth at a fourth consecutive World Cup.

Rashid Khan was the decisive figure throughout. He claimed 3 for 44 with his leg spin to put Ireland under pressure during the first innings, then walked in with Afghanistan wobbling at 154 for 6 in their chase of 206 and contributed 37 vital runs to see his side home. Mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar was equally damaging with the ball, and together the pair finished with combined figures of 6 for 73, accounting for Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher and Ben Calitz in the process.

Rashid batted with patience and control, holding back from any aggressive intent until Afghanistan were within 15 runs of the target. He then clipped a wristy boundary to bring the total into single figures before hitting the winning runs, a brace off Harry Tector, to trigger widespread celebrations in the Afghanistan camp. Comeback man Yamin Ahmadzai, returning to ODI cricket for the first time since 2022, provided crucial support at the other end, occupying 26 deliveries for his unbeaten four to help Afghanistan cross the line.

Ireland's score of 206 owed much to a record ninth-wicket stand between Jai Moondra and Gavin Hoey. With the home side crumbling at 128 for 8, the pair put on 76 runs to give Ireland something to defend. Hoey top-scored with 36, while Moondra, in only his second ODI innings, made 31 enterprising runs, showing sharp footwork and smart game awareness against the Afghan spin attack.

Moondra struck five boundaries in his knock before edging behind to Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Ahmadzai, who was completing his second wicket of the innings. The Ireland innings wrapped up in the 47th over when Hoey was dismissed attempting a big swing down the ground off Azmatullah Omarzai.

Gurbaz set a brisk platform at the top of the order, targeting anything full from Ireland's pace bowlers. He was particularly severe on Moondra, the left-arm seamer, who could not generate the same movement as Mark Adair in the Belfast conditions. Gurbaz reached his eighth ODI half-century with a heave over the deep midwicket boundary before Hoey's leg-spin began to unravel the middle order.

Sediqullah Atal was caught at long-on for 27 off a flighted Hoey delivery, while Adair produced a superb nip-backer to bowl skipper Rahmat Shah through the gate. Hashmatullah Shahidi pulled a half-tracker straight to the fielder at deep square, and Darwish Rasooli toe-ended a slog-sweep to midwicket.

Omarzai then miscued a lofted drive to cover, leaving Afghanistan at 154 for 6 and Ireland sensing an unlikely win. Hoey finished with 4 for 34 through the middle overs, but having bowled out by the 33rd over, Ireland ran short of options at the critical stage. Rashid's composure at the crease ultimately proved the difference, as Afghanistan sealed qualification for a fourth straight ODI World Cup.