Cricket World Cup League 2: USA push on as table takes shape

By Daniel Beswick

Cricket World Cup League 2 has again thrown up intriguing storylines and headline moments, as its eight teams fight for four automatic Cricket World Cup Qualifier spots.

Closing in towards the final third of the tournament, the table has taken shape, with USA's perfect run in UAE moving them further ahead of the chasing pack.

A look at where each team stands as eye off Cricket World Cup Qualifier spots, and their hopes of reaching the 14-team global tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027.

Watch all the League 2 action live and free on ICC.tv (in select regions)

1st: USA

24 matches, 36 points (18 wins, 6 losses)

The Americans have extended their lead at the top of the table thanks to two wins over both Nepal and UAE, almost eight wins in front of North American rivals Canada who look outside the top four in fifth place.

The side have welcomed back Associate super coach Pubudu Dassanayake, who combined with a playing group heaving with match-winning talent has helped the side reach another gear.

The latest tri-series showed off the abundance of individual quality, with the side flourishing in slow conditions thanks to the work mainly through their spin attack and a batting line-up impressively adapting to conditions.

Milind Kumar has shown his quality in particular with the bat, with his scores of 70 not out, 71, 70 and 123 not out taking his ODI batting average to 67.73, the highest recorded in the format (minimum 20 innings). In the final match of that stretch Kumar put on an unbeaten 264 with Sai Mukkamalla (137 not out), before taking a wicket as the Americans bowled their opponents out for just 49.

The Americans boast three of the top five run-scorers in the competition in Kumar (1016) and Mukkamalla (874), as well as Monank Patel (842), though the side have found ways to win too with the ball, defending just 122 against Oman in February, the lowest total defended in Men's ODI history (not counting revised matches due to weather).

Kumar (28 wickets), Nosthush Kenjige (31) and Harmeet Singh (31) have tied down opposition with spin, while fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar, who has 35 wickets of his own in the cycle, became the first American to reach 100 scalps in the format.

2nd: Scotland

24 matches, 30 points (13 wins, 7 losses, 4 no-results)

Two wins and two no results in their latest four-match tri-series in Canada has moved them to second place for now, solidifying their status as competition heavyweights.

It was again George Munsey to stand up in trying conditions in King City, making 84 not out and 59 from just 31 balls, taking his tally to a competition-high 1037 at an average of 64.81.

At their best, the Scots possess the firepower to match anyone, including the sides they would take on if they were to qualify for the World Cup proper. The side put up the competition's highest total in history, making 380/9 in their 50 overs against The Netherlands, with tons from Brandon McMullen and Richie Berrington.

Berrington (672 runs) and McMullen (662 runs) remain prolific, while the crafty medium pace of McMullen (31 wickets) has also been immense help for the Scottish bowling cause, leading his team's efforts.

Fellow quick Charlie Cassell also made headlines, breaking Kagiso Rabada’s nine-year-old record for best bowling figures on debut in Men’s ODIs with figures of 7/21.

3rd: Netherlands

24 matches, 28 points (13 wins, 9 losses, 2 no-results)

The Dutch made a strong start to their campaign, their first League 2 tilt in the new Cricket World Cup structure, though a one-win effort in the most recent tri-series in Scotland has pulled the team in orange back towards the rest of the field.

In saying that, the side have picked up points on tough overseas assignments in Nepal, Oman and Namibia, and look good value for a top four finish.

Aryan Dutt's 6/34 early in the campaign in Nepal against Namibia sent an early competition warning shot, and the side claimed a win over the hosts in Kirtipur, only underlining their status as competition heavyweights.

Scott Edwards' side claimed a victory over UAE in Oman, before going unbeaten on a tour of Namibia, albeit with two no-results.

Impeded by player availability, the team have shared the load with the bat, though Max O'Dowd has brought consistency at the top of the order, making 857 runs at a tick under 43, which included a stunning unbeaten 158* that broke Scottish hearts in Dundee on the recent tour.

With the ball Kyle Klein has stepped up, taking 35 wickets at just 19.42, while Paul van Meekeren has displayed his quality, taking his 34 wickets at just 20.26.

It will be almost 12 months between League 2 fixtures for the Dutch, who will know what they need to do in their late push from June next year.

4th: Oman

20 matches, 24 points (11 wins, 7 losses, 2 no-results)

A successful tour of the USA with almost a completely reshuffled team has given Oman's League 2 campaign life, and a realistic path to a top four spot come the end of the cycle.

At one point looking destined for a bottom four finish, losing the likes of Aqib Ilyas and Zeeshan Maqsood among a mass departure, skipper Jatinder Singh has returned to form, making waves in a match-winning performance over the USA.

It's been a change of tack on the bowling front too that has led to the Omani push, with left-arm orthodox spinner Shakeel Ahmed both leading Oman's attack and sitting atop the competition wicket tally with 39 wickets at an astonishing average of just 11.15.

There may have been doubts if Shakeel would be able to match his home efforts while on the road, though he has showed his guile with nine wickets across their four matches in Florida.

5th: Canada

24 matches, 21 points (9 wins, 12 losses, 3 no-results)

The Canadians enjoyed a promotion bounce of sorts early in their first League 2 campaign, though a dip in form has pulled them back in a mid-table fight.

The side have won just one match in the 2025 calendar year, that too only in a Super Over against Namibia, and they only added one point (a no-result) in their last home tri-series.

Responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of Harsh Thaker (637) and Pargat Singh (660), the only players in the side with over 500 runs to their name.

With the ball, Dilon Heyliger remains a consistent wicket-taker (35) alongside Kaleem Sana (34), though the side will want more out of their spin attack. Saad Bin Zafar still has 20 wickets in 22 outings, though the left-armer averages over 38, and has a higher ceiling to reach.

6th: Namibia

24 matches, 19 points (9 wins, 14 losses, 1 no-result)

Two wins and a no-result in their last tri-series in Canada has given the Namibians life in their League 2 campaign, on the hunt for a top four spot.

It was a frustrating start for Gerhard Erasmus' side, who began the campaign with just seven wins in 20 outings, though the appointment of Craig Williams looks to have freed up a group ready to show how good they can be.

Glimmers of hope come more on the bowling side, with Bernard Scholtz and Erasmus combining with 77 wickets between them through their spin, and a young pace battery of Ben Shikongo and Jack Brassell starting to emerge alongside Ruben Trumpelmann and JJ Smit.

It is on the batting side where the Eagles must lift, particularly with the retirement of Michael van Lingen compounding selection headaches. Erasmus (585 runs) and the added batting responsibility of Jan Frylinck (505) has led the group, though both average under 30 in the cycle.

7th: Nepal

20 matches, 12 points (5 wins, 13 losses, 2 no-results)

A winless tri-series made worse by dropping points to UAE, the only side below them on the table, means Rohit Paudel's side are staring down a trip to the Qualifier play-off and even a threatening of their ODI status.

For all their success in the other white-ball format, qualifying again for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, consistency in the 50-over game has not followed.

Welcoming new coach Stuart Law, the side did drag back two of the competition's high-flyers with two wins over the Dutch and one over Scotland, only for their Emirati struggle to push them further back.

The side have been in this position before though, incredibly winning 11 of their last 12 matches in the last cycle to sneak into top four.

Only a similar run will likely be enough for the side to avoid the Qualifier Play-off.

The player so often stepping up in a crisis, Karan KC has again provided life in the campaign, salvaging a one-wicket win with a ball to spare in the first match of their Scotland tour, finishing with 65 not out in just 41 balls in his mission with the tail.

8th: United Arab Emirates

20 matches, 10 points (5 wins, 15 losses)

Two wins in the latest tri-series give the Emiratis hope of carrying momentum into the second half of the campaign, though its an uphill battle for another team going through extensive change.

The Emiratis effectively gave the rest of the field a headstart with three successive defeats at home to begin the campaign back in early 2024, and little has improved with the side sitting in last.

While continuity has been a struggle, playing 29 different players already, there have been glimpses, with wins over the Netherlands, Scotland and Nepal showing the potential quality in the group.

Rahul Chopra has stepped up in both wins with the bat, while the emergence of spinner Simranjeet Singh has been another positive in the campaign.

Their recent run of form in T20I cricket should also be a source of inspiration, qualifying for the next T20 World Cup and having beaten Bangladesh in a home series, just their second series win in the format over a Full Member.