LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday confirmed the sides who have qualified directly for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 to be held in Australia, based on the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings as on December 31, 2018. As per the qualification criteria set for the tournament, Pakistan, Australia and the other six top ranked sides have ensured direct qualification. The top eight make it straight to the Super 12s stage while the remaining two will play in the group stage along with six other teams who will make it through from the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier in 2019. Four teams from the group stage will advance to the Super 12s. Of the top 10 sides on the rankings table, top-ranked Pakistan, India, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies and Afghanistan will start their campaign directly in the Super 12s. Former champions and three-time finalists Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will have to contend with the other six qualifiers in the group stage of the tournament, which will be held from October 18 to November 15, 2020. Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga was disappointed at the 2014 champions not making it to the Super 12s but was confident of the team doing well in the tournament while Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan indicated that recent performances had given them belief and they would prepare well for the challenge. Afghanistan earn direct qualification: Only 18 months since their promotion to Full Membership, Afghanistan have also secured a direct place in the main group stage of the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia by virtue of being in the top eight of teams in the ICC Rankings at the 2018 cut-off date. 1: Teams through to the Super 12: Pakistan, India, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan. 2: Full Members who will have to qualify to the Super 12s: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Ireland. Afghanistan’s progression up the T20I Rankings corresponds with a slip down the order for Sri Lanka, who currently sit in ninth place on 87 points. Afghanistan qualified for the first time in the West Indies in 2010 after beating Ireland in the final of the T20 World Cup Qualifier in UAE earlier that year. They subsequently qualified again in 2012 for a then 12-team event and also reached the opening round of the 2014 tournament but finished below both Nepal and eventual opening-round group winners Bangladesh. Published in Daily Times, January 2nd 2019