mikesiva wrote:Canada, Kenya, Ireland and the Netherlands are the teams in the World Cup....
I'm disappointed that Afghanistan didn't make it. Maybe in 2015....
Sorry mikesiva there is no chance of that happening, the ICC have decided that the 2015 Wc will be restricted to only 10 nations. Now remind me how many test playing nations are there?
at the time the, imho buffon, Haroon Lorgat stated that the ICC Champions trophy was the competition where the minnows would get to play the big boys.
The next Champs trophy is to be held supposedly in England in 2013, but afore mentioned buffon has now stated that he would like to see the 'World Test Chapionships' to be played by the top 4 ranked test playing nations take place at that time instead.
Oh the minnow are still (at the moment) allowed to try to qualify for the 20/20 wc, and sure I am that they would love to play a bit of hit an giggle cricket but how pray tell is that supposed to help them develop? 50 Over is the minimum to allow a batsman to learn to bat an innings and for a bowler to learn to bowl a spell.
The Idea that during tours the test playing nations should also play against the top ranked associates is already in place but very few tourists bother to do so.
Not only that but the ICC and the BCCI that controls it are only interested in $ signs which is why they are mooting the idea of an IPL type expansion into the USA. Not to develop the game although that MAY be an unintended consequence, but to make a lot of money for the promoters and franchies owners none of which finds it way back to 'grass roots' development.
Kenya were supposed to be helped towards achieving full membership status in the late 90's and early 00's but none of that happened, how many tourists to SA (England included) bothered to schedule a game or games against them? (Its a pity Steve Tikolo coiuldn't get a SA passport he would have been a shoe in for them at the time)
Why are Bermuda not asked to play in the WI one day or 1st class leagues?
Why when Ireland were playing in the English one day competitions were the counties allowed to refuse to release their players to them? When will Scotland be invited into the competition?
Zimbabwe are safe in their full member status only because they can be assured to vote whatever way the BCCI tells them to, the same with Bangladesh.
Afghanistan's good works in the qualification for the 2011 WC has assured them a place in the 3rd Div of the ICC Pepsi league which affords them more chances to progress but without a 'home' to play they are going to struggle to progress out side of the one day game.
It seems to me that the ICC want to play nothing more than lip service to the notion of expanding the game whilst ensuring that the nice cosy club at the top continues to cream off the profits for the benifits of the few. For example in the 2007 WC Pakistan and India both went home with prize (attendance) money of millions of $ each where as the Irish side which on it's progress through to and in the group stages beat 2 test playing nations and drew with a 3rd knocking Pakistan out in the process only recieved $500,00 prize money at the same time as the guys representing their country were selling their cars and taking out loans to pay to stay out for their extended stay?
I will shut up now but you may just guess this is a subject i feel just a little strongly about.
"And if Dubliner Eoin Morgan had not been ruled out of the England squad by injury, there could have been as many as 10 Irishmen on the field at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium - and only six English-born players." As it was alas there were only 9!