Wisden’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 Team of the Tournament

The qualifying tournament for the 2023 World Cup in India in October-November, the World Cup Qualifier, has come to an end with Sri Lanka emerging victorious and booking a place in the main event along with runners-up Netherlands.

Over three weeks, the tournament witnessed high-quality action with several Associate members causing major upsets. Hosts Zimbabwe, who were looking good after the group stages, stumbled in the Super Sixes, while West Indies hit rock bottom, winning just one game against the five other teams that qualified for the Super Sixes.

Here’s Wisden’s Team of the Tournament, including the best performers in the campaign. This XI consists of players from five different teams.

Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka)

417 runs @ 69.50, SR: 87.78, 2 50s, 2 100s, HS: 104

Nissanka was the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament. He provided starts in every game for Sri Lanka, scoring at least 20, except in the Super Six match against Netherlands where he was out for a golden duck. His centuries against West Indies and Zimbabwe ensured that Sri Lanka completed their run-chases of 244 and 166 with no fuss.

Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)

369 runs @ 61.50, SR: 88.70, 3 50s, 1 100, HS: 103

Karunaratne joins his Sri Lanka opening partner Nissanka as the other opener of this XI. He finished the tournament as the third-highest run-scorer and was one of the pillars at the top for the eventual champions of the World Cup Qualifier. His knock of 103 against Ireland propelled Sri Lanka to 325 which proved to be too much and eventually played a role in their exit from the group stage of the tournament.

Sean Williams (Zimbabwe)

600 runs @ 100, SR: 139.21, 2 50s, 3 100s, HS: 174; 3 wickets @ 41.66, ER: 5, BBI: 3-41

Williams had a record-breaking run in the tournament, crossing fifties in five of the seven innings he played. He was the highest run-scorer in the tournament by far. Against the USA, he ran riot and was on course to score the fastest double century in ODIs before he was dismissed for 174. Unfortunately, despite Williams’ unbelievable form, Zimbabwe faltered in the Super Sixes and won’t be featuring in the World Cup later this year.

Brandon McMullen (Scotland)

364 runs @ 52, SR: 88.78, 1 50, 2 100s, HS: 136; 13 wickets @ 17.53, ER: 4.85, BBI: 5-34

One of the breakout stars of the World Cup Qualifier, 23-year-old McMullen stole the show equally with both bat and ball. He batted in the top three and opened the bowling with his right-arm medium pace. The highlight of his campaign was his 106 against Netherlands in a must-win game. It didn’t eventually help Scotland win the match but showed that along with skills, McMullen also has the ability to perform under pressure.

Bas de Leede (Netherlands)

285 runs @ 47.50, SR: 101.06, 0 50s, 1 100, HS: 123; 15 wickets @ 22.13, ER: 5.65, BBI: 5-52

De Leede was having a relatively quiet tournament with the bat before he turned up on the big stage, in the do-or-die match against Scotland. He not only took a five-for in that game but also shepherded the Dutch through a run-chase of 278 which they needed to complete within 44 overs. He coupled his 5-52 with a 123 off 92 balls in what was one of the greatest ODI performances of all time.

Nicholas Pooran (West Indies) (wk)

350 runs @ 70, SR: 116.66, 1 50, 2 100s, HS: 136

Pooran was one of the few positives to take away for West Indies from this otherwise dismal campaign of theirs. He hit two centuries, one against Nepal, and one against the Dutch. While the latter came off just 63 balls, it wasn’t enough to take West Indies over the line against a spirited Netherlands side. A lot of changes might be coming in West Indies cricket after this tournament, but Pooran has ensured with his performance that he will still be one of the core members of the side going ahead.

Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)

325 runs @ 65, SR: 116.48, 1 50, 1 100, HS: 102*; 9 wickets @ 29.77, ER: 4.78, BBI: 4-55

Raza carried the hopes of Zimbabwe as they came into this tournament. And he didn’t disappoint with his performances. He scored 30-plus in every innings he batted, including a 54-ball 102 not out in a run-chase against Netherlands, one of the two eventual finalists. As always, Raza contributed with the ball as well, picking nine wickets across seven innings, including a four-for against Netherlands.

Logan van Beek (Netherlands)

75 runs @ 37.50, SR: 98.7, 0 50s, 0 100s, HS: 28; 12 wickets @ 30.16, ER: 5, BBI: 4-24

Van Beek shot to fame in the match against West Indies where he first plucked a tie from the jaws of defeat with a 14-ball 28 and then came up with the best Super Over performance ever: 30 runs with the bat and two wickets for eight runs with the ball. He also hit the winning shot against Scotland, the shot that booked Netherlands spot in the World Cup and did consistently well with the new ball.

Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)

22 wickets @ 12.90, ER: 5.13, BBI: 6-24

Hasaranga was the undisputed bowling star of the tournament, ending as the highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets at a scarcely believable average of 12.90. He picked three consecutive five-fors in the first three games of the tournament and picked less than two wickets in only one out of seven games.

Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka)

21 wickets @ 12.23, ER: 4.02, BBI: 4-25

Theekshana was Hasranaga’s deputy throughout the tournament, almost going toe to toe with him and finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker. He kept getting progressively better throughout the tournament, picking three four-fors in his last three games, including the Final.

Chris Sole (Scotland)

11 wickets @ 25, ER: 4.67, BBI: 3-33

While there were other fast bowlers with better numbers than Sole in the tournament, there were none with higher speeds. Sole’s consistent 90 mph-plus deliveries beat the bat of many seasoned players, including the likes of Sean Williams and Craig Ervine in a spell that blew away the Zimbabwe top-order and crashed their World Cup hopes.