Former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rashid-Latif-c84084 calls Irish victory over England a ‘fluke’, backs minnows axing
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has supported the opinion that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should only include the top-eight Test playing nations for the next World Cup. The ICC is expected to take a decision on this matter later this year.
Several cricket pundits all around the world are criticising cricket’s governing body for including so many minnows in the most prestigious competition of the game. It may be noted here that Latif is the head coach of a minnow (http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745) at present.
16 teams participated in the previous edition of the tournament in the Caribbean. After some serious thought the number of teams was reduced to 14 this time around, but many greats of the game do not favour the inclusion of non-Test playing nations in the
World Cup.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751’s shock victory over England forced many to reconsider. Ireland was out of the competition at one stage with five wickets down for just 111 runs on the board. Kevin O’Brien and Alex Cusack decided to take on the English bowling and things started
to fall in place for the Irish team.
Latif, however, was not impressed by the mega upset and called the Irish win a ‘fluke’.
“Ireland’s victory was just a fluke because they had nothing to lose and went all-out, whereas England being a major force remained under pressure as their prestige was on-line,” he said.
The former wicketkeeper feels that the ICC should organise more international matches for the associate countries rather than just making them play in the World Cups after four years.
“Players would get experience of international cricket by facing the giants of cricket five to six times in a year instead of facing them once in World Cups,” Latif added.
He urged the ICC to help associate countries financially in developing the structure of the game at the national level, because only then can the smaller teams compete with the bigger nations.
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