The two-time world champions can no longer qualify for the 2023 tournament in India after a third consecutive defeat, this time to Scotland in Harare.

Two of Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Netherlands and Scotland will take the final available spots for the 10-team World Cup later this year.

Speaking after the loss to Scotland, Hope raised doubts over his side’s attitude and preparation leading up to the Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

Hope said: “It really has to do with the attitude, we need to put in a much better effort. The effort needs to remain, regardless of what has happened. We did it in patches but we certainly need to improve on that. The preparation needs to be better. We cannot come here and expect to be an elite team without preparation. Cannot expect to wake up one morning and be a great team.”

When pressed on whether the talent was there in the Caribbean for West Indies to compete at the top level, Hope was adamant that there was. “There is no question about it,” said Hope. “We need to make sure we transfer that talent into consistent performance.”

While this is the most high-profile low for West Indies cricket, it is a result that has been coming. West Indies failed to qualify for the eight-team 2017 Champions Trophy and more recently, failed to reach the Super 12 stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Though they qualified for the 2019 World Cup (where they finished in ninth place), they came close to missing out on that competition after a defeat to Afghanistan, and a narrow rain-affected win over Scotland in the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

Only Australia have won the World Cup on more occasions than West Indies after they won the first two editions of the competition under the captaincy of Clive Lloyd in 1975 and 1979. 2023 will be the first World Cup not to feature West Indies.