It appears as if International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to reduce the number of teams to 10 at the 2015 World Cup is justifiable. Kenya's abysmal performance here at Chepauk yesterday bowled out by New Zealand for 69 runs brought to the fore the ugly truth that cricket is still a sport confined to seven or eight teams.
Though the Kenyan team management, counting Jonty Rhodes, were sure of upsetting the Kiwis, who came here on the back of their worst run in ODI history, the Africans could not live up to the billing of the only minnow side to have made the semi-finals in 2003.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori agreed with ICC's move of getting rid of associate teams like Kenya for the next World Cup. "To be honest, I can see the benefits of ICC doing this. In 1996, we didn't have so many associate teams, and it was a successful World Cup. Just as long as the development of these lesser teams is done ¦ that's important for the sport. Everyone is talking about globalising the sport, and we won't know what these teams are capable of until they play in big tournaments. It's up to the ICC to see whether their development is done in different levels and tournaments. I can see both formats working, the World Cup won't lose out in any way," Vettori said.
However, West Indies' World Cup-winning skipper Clive Lloyd has another view. He told a TV station recently: "Why would we want to get rid of them? In the FIFA World Cup, teams like Senegal and South Korea have caused major upsets. That's why it's called a World Cup. It's important to grow rather than reduce the number of teams."
Though the Kenyan team management, counting Jonty Rhodes, were sure of upsetting the Kiwis, who came here on the back of their worst run in ODI history, the Africans could not live up to the billing of the only minnow side to have made the semi-finals in 2003.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori agreed with ICC's move of getting rid of associate teams like Kenya for the next World Cup. "To be honest, I can see the benefits of ICC doing this. In 1996, we didn't have so many associate teams, and it was a successful World Cup. Just as long as the development of these lesser teams is done ¦ that's important for the sport. Everyone is talking about globalising the sport, and we won't know what these teams are capable of until they play in big tournaments. It's up to the ICC to see whether their development is done in different levels and tournaments. I can see both formats working, the World Cup won't lose out in any way," Vettori said.
However, West Indies' World Cup-winning skipper Clive Lloyd has another view. He told a TV station recently: "Why would we want to get rid of them? In the FIFA World Cup, teams like Senegal and South Korea have caused major upsets. That's why it's called a World Cup. It's important to grow rather than reduce the number of teams."
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