International Cricket Council deciding on the format of 2015 World Cup
After the never ending debate regarding the format of the ICC World Cup 2011 which saw as many as four minnows taking part in 49 match tournament, the International Cricket Council is deciding on its options of shortening the 2015
format of the World Cup. The changes will in essence make the group stage more competitive than the case was in the recently concluded tournament.
The governing body of the game is set to meet with its Executive Council and ponder on the best possible format for the tournament. The Chief Executive of the body, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haroon-Lorgat-c61719 had stated at the start of the 2011 edition that concluded
with a win for co-hosts http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 last Saturday that the body was keen on reducing the number of participants for the 2015 edition to 10.
This would mean that nine test playing teams will make the line-up besides one qualifier from a group of 5-6 fringe teams also regarded as minnows at the highest level. A similar format was used the last time the World Cup was held
in Australian and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045, an associated member, then took part in the event.
There are different opinions on the role of minnows in the tournament, as many current and former cricketers feel that the lowly ranked teams need to be chucked out of the mega event. On the other hand, there is a school of thought
which believes that the minnows ought to play at the biggest stage, which is the only way to improve their game, even if it compromises the quality of cricket with a plethora of lop-sided results.
One member of the pro minnows club is new Australian captain Michael Clarke. He thinks that giving opportunities to minnows is a step in the right direction.
"I really enjoy seeing the minnow teams getting an opportunity to be honest, I guess it's up to the ICC to work out whatever they think is for the betterment of the game, that's obviously their priority," http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 said in Sydney.
He added that the last two World Cups where the minnows have been involved have made the tournaments interesting and also helped improve the game amongst the second tier teams.
"For me I think the two World Cups I've been involved in have been fantastic, it certainly does feel between games like you have a long period, when you've got six and seven days between games, but I've enjoyed seeing some of the minnow
teams or all of the minnow teams play.”
Lorgat has said that the Executive Council meeting will come up with their discussions surrounding the event and discuss the length of the 50 overs competition, which is hailed by the body as their flagship event.
He added that there were some good teams amongst the lowly ranked ones who had the potential to rise to the top and grow as big as the leading teams.
However the catch is that they need constant exposure and need to rub shoulders with the bigger boys in order to make a lasting impression. This is not always easy to facilitate outside a mega event like the World Cup or the T20 Championships.
The Chief Executive added that the format is still being debated and plans are on to finalise the format for the next edition of the World Cup set to take place four years down the line.
The matter is to be mulled over in a board meeting over the next two days which will consider and determine which teams will play in the ICC World Cup 2015 which will be the 11th edition of the tournament.
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