ICC Associate Members fear for a place in 2015 World Cup
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made it clear that Associate Members might not make the cut for the 2015 World Cup.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haroon-Lorgat-c61719, chief executive of the ICC, confirmed rumours that the ICC was considering not holding any qualifying rounds for the World Cup. Speaking to the media at the second Ashes Test match at the Adelaide Oval, Lorgat said
that the ruling body of the ICC has a keen interest in featuring only the best international cricket teams at the World Cup.
However, he admitted that the topic was still premature and the body was in the process of debating whether or not there would be a qualifying tournament to determine which teams would vie for the coveted trophy.
This would mean that the ICC’s Associate Member teams, which have not yet gained Test status, would be unable to play in the World Cup.
According to the World Cup format, 14 teams will be featuring in the February 2011 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 was initially co-hosting cricket’s biggest tournament as well,
but due to security concerns, lost its chance to play host.) The ICC has already announced that the 14-team format would be trimmed down to a 10-team format in the 2015 World Cup. As there are only 10 Full Members of the ICC, all of whom are eligible to play
in the tournament, this implies there will be no place for Associate Members – especially if the ICC decides there will be no qualifying rounds.
Lorgat did announce however that the Associate Member teams will have plenty of international cricket to work on their potential and feature in the world’s top ten best cricket teams.
“There will be more opportunities for the Associate countries in the World Twenty20 Cup which will be held every two years and involve sixteen teams, including six Associates,” Lorgat said.
One of the Associate teams, Ireland, had already geared up its campaign to feature in the next World Cup as it prepares to welcome England’s international cricket team in August 2011. England’s tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 is expected to be
the highlight of international cricket’s post-World Cup season, and Cricket Ireland has announced the pricing and the schedule.
Meanwhile, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rashid-Latif-c84084, the coach of the Afghanistan cricket team, stressed the need for more international cricket for Associate teams, which he believes have immense potential that needs to be exposed and polished.
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