Furore over ICC bid to chop Associates off Cricket World Cup
Going back four decades, in the first ICC organised Cricket World Cup in 1975, Sri Lanka was still an Associate Member and took part in the tournament by invitation.
Now after ten such tournaments and the one in progress, the ICC on pure monetary considerations is trying to leave out the Associate Members from the ICC Cricket World Cup from the 2019 edition, scheduled to be played in England in June and July – a tournament which would comprise 48 matches.
This ‘Big Three’ is concocted move has irked the cricket community as a whole. They feel that the ICC instead of expanding the game is trying to drive backwards for little gain or not at all.
“Cricket is the only sport with a World Cup that is contracting rather than expanding,” said Ireland’s experienced batsman Ed Joyce before the World Cup. Joyce’s comments were both pointed and prescient.
He was objecting to the ICC’s plan to reduce the number of teams at the 2019 World Cup from 14 to 10.
Even Sri Lanka Cricket’s Senior Vice President Mohan de Silva, who is now in Melbourne following the Lankan team’s progress, was not agreeing with the unpopular ICC move. He said, “Some of the Associates play good cricket. Afghanistan played a good game against us. Ireland beat the West Indies. These are not isolated incidents. Almost at every World Cup there has been at least one such result. They keep playing in their forum and this is their biggest opportunity to come out and play with the big lot. The ICC must encourage this instead of keeping them out.”The move has not gone down well even with some of the ex-Lankan cricketers who are now domiciled Down Under.
Saliya Ahangama who was a part of the Lankan outfit that scored their first-ever test win in 1985 against India was also a former secretary of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The ACC which fosters a host of young cricketing nations is also an important member of the ICC. Airing his thoughts on the matter, Ahangama said, “I think the ICC should stick by this format. Remember when Sri Lanka was an Associate member we did get the opportunity of playing for trophies like the Gopalan Trophy and we had the opportunity of assessing our strengths.“I think cricket should be developing into the true global status, but, with moves of this nature it cannot be achieved. This is a very selfish move mooted by the ‘Big Three – England, Australia and India’. But, see England is one of the sides that have been struggling in this year’s tournament while some of the Associates have played good cricket.
“Ireland already has a host of county players in their ranks while Scotland also has a few. Afghanistan players get the opportunity of playing in Pakistan and Pakistan play most of their home games in the UAE. So Pakistan could keep playing some side games against them whenever when they are there. They of course have the infrastructure too.
“I personally feel that the World Cup should continue to nurture the Associates; that is the only way that the Associates could be a part of this showpiece of cricket.”