The ghosts of last October’s humiliating exit from the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup at the preliminary stage in freezing Tasmania still haunt.

But West Indies must put all that behind them as they enter another round of qualifiers in Zimbabwe on Sunday. This time the Caribbean boys will be seeking to make it to the 10-team ICC One-Day International (ODI) World Cup scheduled for India in October/November.

The globe’s top eight teams in ODI cricket have already qualified by dint of their performances since the last ODI World Cup in 2019. They are India, New Zealand, Australia, England, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South Africa.

From the qualifiers starting Sunday only two teams will make it, with West Indies and Sri Lanka heavily favoured. But Caribbean cricket followers need no reminding that there’s ‘many a slip twixt the cup and the lip’.

West Indies, former two-time ODI World Cup champions, are drawn in Group A which includes hosts Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, Nepal, and the United States — the US being the Caribbean side’s opponents on Sunday. Sri Lanka are grouped with Ireland, Oman, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Several who were part of that failing West Indies squad in Tasmania remain for the current qualifiers but leadership has changed. Mr Shai Hope has taken over as captain from Mr Nicholas Pooran who remains as a leading batter.

Cricket followers will be aware that the white-ball captaincy is now split between Mr Hope in ODIs (50 over) and Mr Rovman Powell in the T20 (20 over) version.

Coaches have also changed. Former West Indies Captain Mr Daren Sammy and newly appointed assistant coaches now guide the white ball team. He replaces Mr Phil Simmons, who walked away — followed by his crew — in the aftermath of the débâcle in Tasmania.

Mr Andre Coley, who earlier this year guided the West Indies as interim coach, on tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe, is now in full charge of the Test squad.

Understandably, long suffering Caribbean fans will be keeping fingers crossed. However, from this distance, we have no complaints about the preparation for this qualifying tournament. While a significant number of the squad were rested for a three-match warm-up tournament in the UAE last week following the Indian Premier League, those who were there did well, winning all three games comfortably which would have sparked confidence.

Crucially, the full-strength squad came through unscathed in two warm-up games in Zimbabwe this week.

Whatever happens from here, Cricket West Indies will have to take stock of how it goes about ensuring automatic qualification to global tournaments. It’s hard to escape the feeling that planning, preparation and team selections are not always as should be — a point underlined by a high-profile review committee following the Tasmanian disaster.

We note Mr Sammy’s indication that he has had positive “in-depth conversations” with top-flight individuals now absent from the West Indies set up, including Messrs Sunil Narine and Shimron Hetmyer, regarding a return to the fold. That’s very important.

As many have pointed out, including the just mentioned review committee, the talent pool in the Caribbean is just not deep enough for the regional team to be less than full strength once all its best players are willing and able.