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Sanity has prevailed as the International Cricket Council (ICC) backed down from an earlier decision to reduce the 2015 World Cup from 14 to 10 teams.
The ICC overturned their original decision and decided to allow four associate countries the opportunity to qualify, therefore creating a 14-team competition. This decision was ratified by the ICC only a matter of days ago at their executive board meeting.
The ICC was keen to cut down on the length and number of matches being played at World Cups following critisism dating back to the 2007 tournament where it was suggested that it was too long.
The most recent World Cup, which was won by co-hosts India, took 43 days to complete.
Among those nations that were to miss out on the 2015 edition were Canada, Kenya, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland, who ironically sprung the biggest upset in the 2011 tournament by defeating England.
Needless to say, the ICC’s original decision to ban associate countries reeked of incompetency and arrogance.
Ireland’s upset of England was the perfect example as to what minnow nations such as these can do if given the opportunity.
These nations need to be encouraged to compete in tournaments such as these and not thrown out, simply so that the tournament length is reduced.
The only way teams such as Ireland, Bangladesh and co. will become stronger, is by playing as much international standard cricket as possible.
The fact that these teams can go into a tournament and cause upsets such as Ireland’s win over England, without as much international exposure as the major cricketing nations, is a testament to how hard they work behind the scenes.
It shows, although at a slow rate, improvement is occurring within these cricketing minnows.
The decision also affects the format for the 2012 and 2014 World T20 tournaments. Originally planned to be 16-team events to give Associate nations international exposure, the tournament will now remain 12-team events with the 10 Test nations and two Associates.
Minnow nations Canada, Kenya, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland need to be given as much exposure at the international level as possible to allow for growth in the game.
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