4 talking points from World Cup qualifiers

After almost three weeks of nerve-wracking contests and some intense cricket, the ICC World Cup qualifiers concluded on Sunday with Afghanistan claiming the trophy by beating West Indies in the finals, albeit both had already secured a qualification by then.

The road to the finals, however, was anything but straightforward. With as many as 10 teams battling it out under the sweltering Harare sun, we were never short of a moment to bask into.

But as we bring down the curtains to a topsy-turvy qualification campaign, here's what we can take away from it.

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#1 Associate also-rans take the game to the big boys of Test cricket

It took just Afghanistan's defeat to Scotland on the opening day to suggest that this ain't going to be a smooth sail for the top shouts. And as the campaign progressed, we were regularly reaffirmed.

It wasn't until the fourth game of the group stage when Rashid Khan and co. really got going, having also been defeated by Hong Kong and Zimbabwe, while the hosts were stunningly knocked out following a loss to UAE in their final game of the Super Six. West Indies, hot favorites from the lot, needed a wake-up call in the form an Afghanistan defeat in the Super Sixes opener, before going down to them again in the finals which they should've nicked comfortably.

But between the jigs and the reels, the qualifiers came alive due to these unexpected upsets and added to the thrill. And that also made the last three weeks of cricket a turbulent Helluva ride.

#2 Afghanistan are going to be fun to watch in the finals

Worthy winners Afghanistan

Afghanistan's steady and seamless progress in the last decade or so clinched them the full ICC membership in June last year, and with a terrific qualification to only their second World Cup, look ready to elevate their stature.

Though the three defeats from as many opening games at the start painted a grim picture, Rashid Khan and co. ensured the final portrait would be one shimmering, as they subsequently found their footing and never looked back.

Afghanistan are a talented bunch of players with top-drawer quality eking out from every department and one of the few teams to boast a unique and perfectly balanced combination of youth and experience. Despite lacking big-match pedigree or an international exposure like the other teams in the tournament proper, the Phil Simmons's side exudes a disarming sense of courage, buoyed by their underdogs' tag.

The Afghans have come a long way since the last World Cup where they sank without a trace, and as we've witnessed in these qualifiers, are a well-oiled cohesive unit. Watching their games was fun, and hopefully, the ones at the World Cup would be too.

#3 Nepal turn over a new leaf in its cricketing history

Nepal look forward to a bright future in international cricket

If Afghanistan's ascent to the top was well-documented, that of Nepal was pretty impressive too. And that culminated with an ODI status for the smallest country in the qualifiers.

Languishing in the sixth tier of world cricket as recently as 2010, the Rhinos have been on the upswing since the turn of the decade - winning 2010 division five; 2012 division three and 2013 division two - and it all came to a full circle here when they became the 13th team to claim an official ODI status. The watershed moment arrived when they beat Papua New Guinea to seal the 8th position in the qualifiers and be bestowed with ODI recognition subsequently.

Nepal's upward trajectory is as impressive and inspiring as it gets, and the ODI status marks the harbinger of a new chapter in a small nation, albeit one with big dreams.

#4 World Cup qualifiers breathe new life into Zimbabwean cricket

Fans gathered in numbers to watch their team play

After a brief period at the pinnacle of world cricket, Zimbabwe descended into turmoil in the aftermath of the 2003 World Cup which they hosted jointly with South Africa. Increasing politicisation of the sport coupled with a mass exodus of players ultimately culminated in Zimbabwe losing their test status in 2005, which marked an all-time nadir for cricket in the country and then some.

So given the pandemonium ensuing in the country in the last decade and a half, the return of ICC to Zimbabwean soil was a welcome sight for the locals who showed up in throngs for every game, especially ones involving Zimbabwe and lit up the atmosphere with indefatigable energy. This encouraging response may not have translated into a success on the pitch as the team ultimately failed to qualify for the finals, but it went a long way in suggesting how cricket is still a rage despite red mists hovering over it for such a long time.

Maybe, the World Cup qualifications breathe new life into the Zimbabwean team too.