Why Associate members are indispensable to the World Cup - Part 1 - Opinion
Ever since the inception of the Cricket World Cup in 1975, some of the most intriguing contests have graced the field in a largely globalized environment. What has added to the flavor has been an array of associate member teams which have made their mark
in various editions of the tournament. The old adage of debuts being deceptive holds true, if one is to assess the performances of minnows in the Cricket World Cup since the 2011 edition. As much as the tournament has evolved from being a daylight affair of
60 overs in the 1970’s, to a power packed fifty over format with floodlights taking effect in modern times, the inclusion of associate members has contributed to the flavor and evolution of the World Cup. Many associate member nations have cherished the opportunity
to take on the world after a period of four years. The rigorous training sessions that most of their players have undergone along with the fact that they had passed some significant hurdles in being counted amongst the very best in the world is a commendable
effort that deserves all the praise.
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747,
have outperformed in previous World Cups. Yet their achievements are almost brazenly being sidelined in light of recent developments.
The ICC, since the 2011 Cricket World Cup, went on to claim that no associate member nations would be included in the 2015 Cricket World Cup which will be held in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754. That controversial decision came amid wallowing cries of the minnows
degrading the game. Yet that decision sidelines some of the most impressive achievements that many of the associate member nations had secured in the World Cup. Progress has been witnessed for teams with less scope for the game domestically, and if one is
to take a sneak peek into their achievements, writing them off for future tournaments would be a cardinal sin.
The 1983 cricket world cup in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 as a competitive cricket side. Their fielding and usage of the new ball to good effect had won them many admirers. Zimbabwe’s inclusion into Test cricket was also well received by
their passionate supporters and for the most part of the early 1990’s; they were ranked amongst one of the best in the world in ODI cricket.
Yet, the penny dropped in the 1996 Cricket World Cup in the subcontinent, which saw the rise of minnows http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 as a global force. Sri Lanka was previously, considered to be a downtrodden outfit, yet their efforts helped revolutionize the manner in which
the ODI game was approached. They not only managed to stage major upsets in that tournament but went on to lift the cup by beating Australia in the final at the Gaddafi Stadium. Sri Lanka was thus, considered to be a prime example of what a minnow outfit could
do if a side is given the right platform to perform. They were not only the best ODI team in world cricket, but were the instigators of a legacy of power hitting that set stadiums ablaze, around the world.
Continued in Part 2
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