2015 Cricket World Cup is reduced to 10 teams

[BallOil]

The International Cricket Council has confirmed its decision to cut team numbers for the World Cup from 14 to 10 starting with the 2015 tournament.

It means there is no place for Ireland, who beat England in the 2011 World Cup.

Only full ICC members – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe – will compete in four years time.

For the 2019 event, the 10 teams will be decided by qualification.

The possibility of a 12-team tournament was also discussed by the ICC’s executive board at a meeting in Mumbai, but it opted to approve its previous decision to exclude all associate and affiliate member nations from the next edition of the competition

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What you guys think about the ICC's decision?

[BallOil]

As a former West Indies Test player, Simmons can see the situation from both sides and he is convinced the move, which puts sides like his own into World Cup exile for a minimum of eight years, is wrong.

Simmons said: 'It is a dark day for cricket but a great day for greed and fear.

'It is hard to find words to describe this despicable decision made by some who want to keep things among themselves and some who fear us.

'There can be no cricketing reasons for this decision, as we answered the cricket question, the television rating question and we are the 10th-ranked nation in the world. What else is needed?

'I'm afraid the next World Cup will be like the American World Series - you are crowned World Champions but the world did not take part - congratulations to India on winning the last real World Cup.

'Finally - congratulations to ICC for pulling the game we love back 10 years.'

It's believed that Cricket Ireland are actively pursuing ways in which the decision can be challenged.

Ireland are currently in discussions with their fellow associates and affiliates about the avenues of action left open to them following the ruling by ICC.

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[BallOil]

Scotland, Canada and Bermuda have joined the condemnation of the ICC's decision to exclude Associates from the 2015 World Cup.

Scotland, who were part of the tournament in 1999 and 2007 and will approach the ICC to reconsider the move. "This has some legs to run yet," Cricket Scotland chief Roddy Smith told BBC Radio Scotland.

"I'm sure the 95 countries ranked below the top 10 will be getting together to talk about what can be done. Can we influence the 10 Full Members to reconsider? It's a long shot but we have to try."

The absence of a qualifying event for 2015 was what upset Scotland the most. "We're not arguing that it shouldn't be a 10-team World Cup," Smith said. "Our biggest concern is that there has to be some sort of qualification event."

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[mapoui]

ovah-tro the ICC! start ah new cricket international!

[BallOil]

ovah-tro the ICC! start ah new cricket international!

Don't laff...this is how things get started...

[Googley]

i don't mind having 10 teams but is how those 10 teams qualify is what matters. the top 10 team should play. They have to devlop a schedule prior to the WC where teams like Ireland get a chance to the big guns. Those Minows must have a chance to get in the top 10.

[BallOil]

i don't mind having 10 teams but is how those 10 teams qualify is what matters. the top 10 team should play. They have to devlop a schedule prior to the WC where teams like Ireland get a chance to the big guns. Those Minows must have a chance to get in the top 10.

yes, the bottom 4, 3, or 2 teams should compete with the minnows to qualify for a world cup spot...