In a bid to secure a direct spot in this year's ICC Women's World Cup in India, Bangladesh women's team will take on West Indies in the opening game of a three-match WODI series in St Kitts today.

As per the tournament qualification rules, the hosts and the top five teams in the ongoing ICC Women's Championship will make a direct entry in the main event. Hosts India, Australia, England, South Africa and Sri Lanka have already qualified for the World Cup.

Bangladesh, who are currently seventh with 19 points, need to win at least two out of their three matches against West Indies to leapfrog New Zealand and ensure direct qualification to the tournament.

However, it will be a monumental task for the Tigresses, who are yet to win against the Caribbean side in any format despite playing four WT20Is and one WODI against them– all in ICC events.

This will also be the first bilateral series between Bangladesh and West Indies, which consists three WT20Is as well.

Meanwhile, West Indies are already out of the running and will play in the qualifying event alongside Ireland, Pakistan, Scotland, Thailand.

If Bangladesh lose the series to the Caribbean side, they will also take part in the qualifiers, from which two teams will join the six top teams in the marquee event.