Cricket News: Associate Members Express Reservations on Proposals of ODI World Cup Restructuring
The associate members of the International Cricket Council have criticized new plans for a smaller version of the 50-over World Cup. Associate members fear that the new proposals, if implemented, would r****d
the growth of the game. According to the associate members, the proposals are detrimental to the promotion of cricket in their countries as well as other countries.
The ICC executive committee includes representatives from many associate countries. At present, Ireland, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hong-Kong-c2919 are amongst the associate countries possessing representation in the Central
Executive Committee. Full member status is held by ten other countries, while these three are granted associate membership.
The ICC’s chief executive committee had unanimously approved the restructuring of cricket and had forwarded proposals for modification in the game formats. The proposals recommended reducing the number of
participating teams in the 50-over tournament from 2015 onwards. The suggestions also recommended an increase in the number of teams for the Twenty 20 World Cup. As per the proposal, the number of teams was recommended to be increased to 16.
The 2011 World Cup to be held in the subcontinent has 14 participating teams along with four associates. The reduction in the number of teams would indeed enhance the quality of games in the World cup. Many
argue that it would lead to better cricket being played and to players being less tired due to having fewer matches to play.
The ICC is yet to define the criteria for the ten teams that would participate in the 50-over world cup. The ICC has urged the associate members not to perceive the proposals as an attempt to exclude them
from the tournament. According to the ICC, the proposals do not mention that associate members are to be excluded from the event. The ICC expressed surprise on the criticism offered by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 against the new proposals. With all three of
them having qualified for the 2011 World Cup, the criticism appears strange from the three countries; an ICC official was quoted as saying.
Canadian Cricket Chief executive, Chandra Gocool bitterly criticized the new proposals for reducing the number of teams in the 50-over World Cup. He termed the step an effort to promote commercialism in the
sport at the cost of associate members. He linked the increase in the number of teams for T20 tournaments with efforts by the ICC to improve T20 in the associate and affiliate countries. Hence the commercial interests of ICC along with the interests of full
members would be fulfilled. The Canadian cricket chief executive was critical on the issue of reduction in teams for the World cup 2015. He said that the step would deprive many aspiring nations from participation in the mega event. The opportunity for the
nations who wanted to develop the sport would be significantly reduced by new proposals, Chandra said.
According to Chandra, the associate members have submitted their objections in written form to the ICC. The paper included suggestions for improving cricket in the associate countries. Chandra Gocool urged
the ICC to carefully analyze the suggestions formulated in the paper. All the steps suggested would enhance the growth of cricket in the associate countries. Gocool stated that the associate members are hoping to develop a strategy that would challenge some
of the full members. Gocool opined that the new proposals would shift the focus of associate members towards limited versions of cricket. According to Gocool, the shifting of focus would deteriorate the standard of other forms of the sport in the associate
countries.
Similar reservations were expressed by the Kenyan and Irish cricket boards. Although the new proposals have been formulated with good intentions, the reservations of the associate members need to be placated. Their input, at the
very least, must be considered dutifully.
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