The West Indies, winners of the tournament in 1975 and 1979, are scheduled to start their campaign in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Qualifier on Tuesday (March 6) as they take on the United Arab Emirates in Harare.

Hosts Zimbabwe, West Indies, Ireland and Afghanistan are the four full ICC members competing at the World Cup qualifier.

The event is due to conclude on March 25.

The two finalists will secure their spot at next year's tournament in England and Wales, joining the eight teams who have already qualified - the host nation, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Bangladesh.

The West Indies, the UAE, Papua New Guinea, Ireland and The Netherlands comprise Group A, while Group B features Afghanistan, Nepal, Scotland, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong.

The top three sides in each of the two groups will progress to the super six phase of the qualifier.

The nations who finish in the top two positions after the super six stage will qualify for the World Cup.

Four matches are scheduled to take place on the opening day tomorrow.

Papua New Guinea face the UAE at the Harare Sports Club and Ireland go up against The Netherlands in Group A at the Old Hararians Sports Club.

In Group B, Nepal take on hosts Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and Afghanistan clash with Scotland at the Bulawayo Athletic Club. 

Ten games from the tournament will be televised live by Star Sports, the ICC’s India-based global media rights partner, and the global governing body’s other international media partners in 200 territories across five continents.

The coverage will be complemented by six minutes per hour of near-live match content which will be supplied by the ICC’s digital clip partners across 180 countries.