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Cricket World Cup 2007 to feature sixteen teams!
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 will feature 16 teams but the final format for the event is still to be agreed. While the Board agreed to expand the tournament to 16 teams divided into four groups of four, there was considerable discussion about the most effective format for the tournament beyond the group stage and the meeting considered the request from its commercial partner, Global Cricket Corporation to play more games than the originally proposed 42 matches. Further investigations and consultations will now take place before the final tournament structure is agreed.

"There are several alternatives that could be used including a 'Super 8' structure of two groups of four, a full round robin format or a modified round robin format the ICC chief Malcom Speed said. ICC recognises Player Associations A more effective relationship between the International Cricket Council and Player Associations is set to emerge after the ICC Executive Board agreed to recognise the Federation of International Cricket Associations (FICA) and any other player association that is recognised by its home board.

ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said that the decision now provides a more effective mechanism through which the ICC is able to consult with players and ensure that their views are properly represented within the ICC. "Along with the annual Captains Meeting and the restructuring of Cricket Committee - Playing to provide for greater player representation, this mechanism will help ensure that player views on issues that affect them are properly represented as decisions are made about international cricket.

New protocol to deal with cancellation of bi-lateral tours A new protocol will govern the process that any country will follow prior to making a decision to cancel a bi-lateral tour. Following on from the recent South African tour to Pakistan that was cancelled and then reinstated all countries considered the most appropriate process to follow in the event that they were considering cancelling a scheduled tour.

It was recognised that the decision as to whether a bi-lateral tour is to proceed is a matter between the Boards and that each Board has the right to determine when and where its team plays. Two elements were adopted by the Board to improve the current process.

The ICC will establish a panel of suitably qualified security experts to be used by any Board in the event that it has concerns over safety and security issues. The Board will then appoint a person from this panel to report on the safety and security aspects of its planned tour. This report will be available to the Board, the Host Country and to the ICC. -MF

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