ICC Cut Leaves Ireland, Netherlands, Canada & Kenya Out of ’15 WC

As expected, the International Cricket Council (ICC) came to a decision at yesterday’s, April 4, executive board meeting in Mumbai, to reduce the number of team’s competing in the 2015 and 2019 Cricket World Cups from 14 to 10.

An ICC press release read: “The Executive Board confirmed their decision made in October 2010 that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand and the ICC Cricket World Cup in England in 2019 will be a 10-team event.

“The Board agreed that the 2015 World Cup will comprise the existing 10 Full Members, however, they gave notice to all Full Members that participation in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup will be determined on the basis of qualification.”

The ruling means that associate nations – such as Kenya, Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands will not be permitted to partake in the next edition of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.

Full members Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe will be the only teams competing at the event.

The decision left Irish Cricket chief Warren Deutrom outraged, claiming the the ruling was ‘disgraceful’ and adding: “I have already been in contact with my other Associate chief executives and it is not a question of if we are going to do something but what we are going to do.”

Ireland reached the Super 8 of the competition in 2007 and in this year’s event defeated England in a memorable victory which saw batsman Kevin O’Brien smash the record of the fastest 100 ever made at the quadrennial tournament, reaching the landmark in just 50 balls.

In other news, the statement from the ICC revealed the world governing body’s strategic plan which “seeks to lead world cricket by providing a world class environment for international cricket; delivering major events across all three formats (Test, 50 over and T20); providing targeted support to members and promoting the global game.”

ICC chief Haroon Lorgat stated: “The strategy is the product of wide ranging and constructive engagement held with the world’s leading cricket administrators and stakeholders. The plan covers a range of strategic topics from the role of the ICC, governance, promotion and protection of the three forms of the game, competition and meritocratic pathways as well as targeted investment.

“The targeted funding for Members will be used to protect the game and its integrity; provide a platform for success and also focus on growth and improvement of playing standards.”

ICC President Sharad Pawar spoke of this year’s tournament, stating: “The tournament reinforced the attraction of 50 over cricket and showed the enthusiasm and excitement generated by nation v nation cricket. There is no doubt that this event has been a great advertisement for ODI cricket.”