Comment from Canada Cricket Online
Following the conclusion of what most think was one of the more successful World Cups of all, the ICC formally announced that it was suspending the competition for 8 years. It will instead replace it with a competition of its own devising, an invitational event where invites are extended only to those who belong to its own elite club- the ICC full members.
And those who voted on this proposal were of course exactly those who now receive an automatic invitation to the event. In doing so they demonstrate their prime interest is simply money, not the development of the game. Any pretence that these are the top ten teams in the world can be dispelled by a quick look at the ICC’s own rankings- where Ireland- quite rightly – are ranked ahead of Zimbabwe. By 2015 Ireland could be the 5th ranked team in the world- but still will not get a chance to qualify for the “World Cup”.
The ICC may try to keep the “World Cup” branding but to do so should lead to charges of misleading advertising.
A true World Cup allows any national team in the world the opportunity to qualify for it – just take a look at FIFA’s qualifying structure for a lesson in how a World Cup represents the global spread of the sport of football. The 2015 event will be no more a world cup than the World Series of baseball – where teams from only two countries take part (well, usually only one).
Perhaps the ICC will launch a competition to devise a name for this exclusive event – we suggest a few possibilities
– “The Fat Cat Challenge”
– “The cup for anyone and everyone who gets a vote at the ICC table”
– “The it’s our competition and the rest of the world can get lost Cup”
– The $$$$$ Trophy
So called experts will argue that the Associates are not strong enough to compete in the World Cup – but in fact their increasing strength is the real reason behind the decision. Ireland’s performance in the 2007 World Cup resulted in a much-anticipated India-Pakistan match not taking place, and a consequent loss of revenue. Kenya’s achievement in reaching the semi-final in 2003 was equally problematic. Cricketing ability has nothing to do with it- ability to sell TV advertisements is everything.
Not only does this decision turn the 2015 event into a farce, it effectively kills cricket development at the highest level in associate cricket. Why should anyone bother playing 50 over cricket when there’s no opportunity to advance to the highest level, let alone the longer form of the game. All that’s left is the slog and run version of the game – great fun, but only develops a small sub-set of the skills that constitute the game of cricket.
The decision clearly indicates that the ICC has little real interest in the globalization of cricket and as such they have shown themselves as incompetent at managing the game.
Andrew Nixon on Cricket Europe calls the decision “nothing short of a disgrace” and suggests the ICC are unfit to govern. We agree, and we suspect that 35 Associate members, and 60 affiliate members share those sentiments. They however are disenfranchised, and now are restricted to begging for scraps from the fat cat’s table.