England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton has admitted that he would be "extremely surprised" if Alastair Cook were not named as one-day captain for the World Cup.
The 29-year-old has faced criticism of late having only reached one half-century in his last 21 one-day innings.
During those matches, England have secured eight victories and suffered four series defeats, but the batsman is widely expected to lead the team in February's tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
"He's horribly out of form at the moment but, as we all know with form, that can turn," Downton told BBC Sport. "I would be extremely surprised if he wasn't the captain at the World Cup.
"He's come through a traumatic summer, in terms of the pressure on him. But in doing so, that dressing room is very much his dressing room in a way that it could never have been before. He's the natural leader of that group of players."
England suffered a 4-2 series defeat to Sri Lanka following Saturday's 90-run loss in the sixth ODI in Pallekele.
