NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – The controversial decision to restrict the 2015 World Cup to only the 10 full members will be reconsidered by International Cricket Council’s (ICC) executive board in June, the governing body said yesterday.
In an April 4 meeting in Mumbai, the board had decided to exclude all non-full members from the next World Cup and the move triggered a protest from second tier sides such as Ireland and the Netherlands.
“After receiving representations from the associate and affiliate members of the ICC, the ICC President Mr Sharad Pawar has decided to request the ICC executive board to revisit the issue in Hong Kong in June,” the statement read.
“I have given this matter further serious thought and will request the board to consider this topic once more,” Pawar was quoted as saying in the statement.
Fourteen teams competed in this year’s World Cup co-hosted by eventual champions India, runners-up Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The Feb 19-April 2 tournament featured numerous group matches in a format that many feared was vulnerable to corruptions.
Ireland felt they had justified their presence in the tournament, where they upset England by producing the tournament’s highest ever successful run-chase.
Cricket Ireland cautiously welcomed Tuesday’s announcement.
“It’s a welcome development but it’s still the first step in a lengthy process because after all, it’s the same individuals having the same debate on the same issue. So clearly there needs to be some catalyst for a change of heart,” its chief executive Warren Deutrom told Reuters.
