The West Indies cricketers received a rousing welcome at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe international airport yesterday evening as they became the first team to arrive for the ICC World cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe starting next month.

Another batch of windies players and officials are expected to touch down today.

The Caribbean side is one of 10 teams down to do battle in the March 4-25 tournament, as they vie for the remaining two spots at the showpiece in England next year.

West Indies open their campaign on March 6 against United Arab Emirates, who won the ICC World Cricket League division 2 last week, to book their spot in the qualifiers.

They, along with Ireland, the Netherlands and Papua new guinea comprise group a while Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Nepal form group b.

The finalists will secure the final two berths at the ICC world cup from May 30 to July 15 next year.