What Sri Lanka's slip means for World Cup

Zimbabwe's shock series win over Sri Lanka could have dire consequences for the Island-nation's hopes of qualifications for the next World Cup.

Sri Lanka, who are expected to name a replacement captain for Angelo Mathews on Wednesday, suffered their third defeat in five matches to Zimbabwe on Monday, handing the visitors an historic triumph.

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The International Cricket Council revealed Tuesday the defeat saw five ranking points shaved off eighth-ranked Sri Lanka's tally on the one-day international standings, with West Indies gaining ground in ninth.

The slip has immediate consequences for both sides, with one set to miss out on direct qualification the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Only the top-eight sides on September 30 this year will qualify automatically for the showpiece 50-over event, to be held in the United Kingdom in 2019.

With only 10 teams - down from 14 at the most recent World Cup in 2015 - to compete at the next edition of the tournament, the final two spots will be determined at a 10-team World Cup Qualifier next year.

That event – which is yet to have a confirmed venue – will feature the bottom four ranked ODI nations, the top four sides from the ICC World Cricket League Championship and the top two sides from a Division Two World Cricket League tournament.

Sri Lanka's final chance to secure direct qualification for 2019 will be next month's five-ODI series against India. Winning at least two matches in that home campaign will be enough to lock in the eighth spot.

Should India prevent that, the Windies could sneak past Sri Lanka on the rankings but they'd need to win four or five matches of their five-game ODI series against England in September.

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As it stands, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland are the bottom-three ranked ODI sides, while the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Scotland are presently the top four sides on the WCL Championship standings.

The ICC came under fire following the last World Cup in 2015 after plans to reduce the number of teams from 14 down to 10 for the next edition of the tournament surfaced.

Ireland captain William Porterfield was one of several vocal critics from Associate nations (Ireland have since become a full member of the ICC) while India great Sachin Tendulkar labelled it "a backward step".

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland however suggested a more condensed competition could make for a better spectacle.

"I have always personally favoured a tighter World Cup format because, as with night Test cricket, that's what fans want," Sutherland said at the time.

"I once thought that might mean limiting the tournament to full ICC members. My view now is that we can do both.

"Run a shorter, tighter World Cup ... that keeps the public engaged and excited.

"But with associates involved, maybe via qualification in a preliminary pre-Cup contest."

ICC ODI STANDINGS (AS OF JULY 12)

1. South Africa - 119 ranking points

2. Australia - 117

3. India - 114

4. England - 113

5. New Zealand - 111

6. Pakistan - 95

7. Bangladesh - 94

8. Sri Lanka - 88

9. West Indies - 78

10. Afghanistan - 54

11. Zimbabwe - 52

12. Ireland - 41

WCL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

(each team has played 10 of 12 matches, unless otherwise stated)

1. Netherlands - 16 points

2. Papua New Guinea - 14 points

3. Hong Kong - 11

4. Scotland - 11 (after eight matches)

5. Kenya - 10

6. Nepal - 8

7. Namibia - 4

8. United Arab Emirates - 2 (after eight matches)