Has the ICC been paying attention the last 2 weeks??

[Donal Cozzie]

So, a couple weeks ago the ICC meeting in Barbados concluded. After the outcry over the decision to reduce the 50 over world cup, attracting criticism from such high profile people like Sachin Tendulkar, it was astonishing to learn that the decision over the 10 team world cup wasnt even allowed to be discussed at the recent ICC meeting. It was brushed under the carpet, zero debate, Mr Clarke and Co. were adamant it would be a 10 team event. Mr Richardson clarified that the reason for the ICC's move was because the TV rights were sold on the basis of a 10 team event. Since the TV rights deal encompasses the 2023 world cup as well, it seems that will be a ten team event as well. The game of cricket has become a slave to its corporate masters, at the expense of the game itself. Wonderful. So, the t20 qualifier being held in Ireland and Scotland couldnt have come at a better time for the Associates to prove they are worthy of world cup participation. And it certainly outlined the quality of the Associate members. The traditional powerhouses, Ireland and Afghanistan, lost several games, showing that, in this format, the mid ranked sides were making great progress. But more than that, yet again the Associates did something full members rarely ever do at world events. They served up some brilliant, meaningful games that went down to the wire. Games with plenty of quality, certainly worthy of the world stage. This was aided by a format that I personally am baffled is not being used in the actual t20 world cup. If it was.... - India and the other big teams would play more games. - Every game would be vital as group qualifying would be difficult - The tournament would still be over within 2 and a half weeks But no, we have, as Peter Borren so eloquently put it, "A qualifier for another qualifier". Yet still, for all its obvious faults, that qualifier is on the world stage, it provides exposure and you can see what it means to the teams that make it http://www.icc-cricket.com/world-t20...winning-moment And also the devastation for the sides that dont http://www.icc-cricket.com/world-t20...t-celebrations Why then, is it, that the ICC seem to do everything in their power to restrict and starve the game of scenes like the ones I linked above? Why is it, that the t20 world cup, which provided crucial funding and games for the Associates that do make it, is now being held every four years as opposed to two?? Why is it, that sides that have come so very close on many occasions, like PNG and Namibia, have had to suffer the devastation of knowing that they will, at best, play one world cup preliminary round (in 2020) within the next 8 years??? Why cant Namibia dream of ending their hoodoo in qualifying events and make it to England in 2019? So folks, I hope you enjoyed the last 2 weeks and enjoy the last couple of games ahead, because odds are the scenes of jubilation by the Omanian and Hong Kong cricket teams will be replaced by the endless, meaningless bilateral series between the same wealthy elite. Why dont full members apply the same measures to themselves that they do Associates, no doubt leading to more exciting games? "Membership benefits" folks. 2 words. Thats why instead of interesting meaningful games you get garbage 7 ODI series. Membership benefits. Thanks for paying attention, because the ICC certainly arent.

[Debutant]

Too long :asleep: I assume you are pitching for minnows to play in the WC. WC itself is quite boring, why make it ever more cringe worthy with even more filth. I certainly don't wanna see teams who barely know how to hold a bat. I would love it if India stops playing international matches and concentrate on IPL

[horizonspeaks]

Within a decade or so, I believe membership benefits will become less and less. International cricket as we know it, would probably take a backseat compared to IPL. If cricket gets into the olympics, only then international cricket will survive - but in that case ODIs and Test will get a severe jolt. Before 2023 financial cycle, we could see the two divisions of test teams too. Associate teams, I think should focus more and more on T-20. In next decade, more than half of cricket revenue will come from T-20. Not only the teams, but also individual cricketers would be able to make money out of T-20 leagues.

[Austin 3:!6]

Sorry Donal but your posts are appearing as whinning these days in all forums. The same old ICC bashing, ICC is unfair towards associates bla bla. We all get that ICC is not the most fair sporting body but associates have not done much either to change ICC's mindset.

[Zero_Unit]

^ it's quite true on most cases except for ireland. They where doing quite well at one point. Infact, they were probably in the same level as Zim/Ban a while back ( Ban is way strong for them in their current form). But one thing is for sure, its not the wc that will make the associates better, its exposures to series vs ranked 9-10.