Thanks and goodbye Minnows No room for minnows in the next two World Cups; only a 10-team affair, says ICC
Whimsical decisions or opportunistic decisions we should say that the International Cricket Council has taken soon after the completion of the 50-overs World Cup in India. Was it necessary to declare now that the weak teams such as Netherlands, Ireland, Kenya, and Canada is definitely out of the next world cup to be held in the year 2015 in Australia and New Zealand? The fastest century in this world cup wad made by Kevin O’Brian against England, and because of his batting performance Ireland won the match in the league stage. I am not in favor of adding more teams in the World Cup tournament unnecessarily, but having ruled out some teams right now is not fair, which would definitely impact the minds of the players of those teams affecting their efforts in improvement. ICC cannot say that these minnows would not improve in the next four years to the stage of Bangladesh or Zimbabwe. If that happens, would the ICC revert from their decision taken now?
The next world cup cricket would comprise of only 10 teams, declared ICC’s Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat. Cricket in Indian subcontinent is much more popular than England, Australia, and New Zealand. It is money spinning source in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Therefore the ICC included the minnows in the tournament for the only reason of having more games to earn more money. In Australia, a game between India and Kenya would not have found even 10% of spectators compared to the game being played in India. So, the hidden logic prompted the ICC to remove these weaker teams right now.
Cricket needs desperately more countries to participate in this game. The ICC and the boards in other cricket playing countries should think more participation rather than removal.
With ICC’s decision, Kevin O’Brian would be disheartened no doubt about it. The remote possibility of his country playing the world cup cricket in 2019 will not inspire him to excel in the game, I presume. He will be 35 years old in 2019, when the game is scheduled to be played in England.