Cricket Ireland Launches Campaign Against ICC Decision To Cut Minnows From Next Cup
CRICKET: The International Cricket Council yesterday confirmed a controversial decision to slash the 2015 and 2019 World Cups to just 10 teams, despite widespread objections.
The world governing body endorsed the move at an executive board meeting in Mumbai, following Saturday’s thrilling World Cup final when India lifted the trophy after a tournament featuring 14 teams.
The move comes despite support from prominent figures for “minnow” nations such as Ireland, Kenya, Canada and The Netherlands, all of whom took part in this year’s competition.
Ireland pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament when it came from behind to beat England by three wickets in a thrilling group stage game.
Cricket Ireland set up a Facebook campaign against the decision, which the body’s chief executive Warren Deutrom called “frankly outrageous”.
“I cannot think of a decision which is less cognisant of the principles of sport and fair play than the one that has been taken today,” he said, in comments posted on the Irish Times website.
The decision means the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be contested only by the full ICC members: Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
The 2019 tournament in England will also include 10 teams, but there will be a qualifying process.
Cricket Australia supported culling the minnow nations. CA chief executive James Sutherland said Australia’s schedule for the World Cup was “unsatisfactory”.
“The Australian team had two seven-day breaks at one stage and in that period, the only cricket they were playing was against minnow countries,” Sutherland said yesterday.
“I’m not making excuses, but it was difficult for the team to build any momentum into what proved to be a clutch match against Pakistan immediately before the quarter-finals.
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The ICC will provide $US1 million ($A965,000) to help New Zealand Cricket move to new premises after its headquarters were destroyed in February’s Christchurch earthquake.
