ICC retains quota for World Cup

HONG KONG (CMC):

Cricket's world governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), have made an about turn on the quota for teams for the next World Cup and will keep faith with the same 14-team format used earlier this year.

The announcement was made following a meeting of the executive board here yesterday.

Following the Cricket World Cup which finished in April, the ICC had announced that the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand would comprise only the 10 full members, with the quota for the 2019 showpiece to be determined by qualification.

"The ICC executive board opted to retain the 14-team format that was used at the highly successful and universally acclaimed ICC Cricket World Cup 2011," an ICC statement said.

The reversal of their initial decision comes after protests from associate members, especially Ireland, who again made a big impact at the 50-overs tournament.

Their defeat of England in Bangalore was the major upset of this year's World Cup and it followed their shock win over Pakistan in the 2007 edition in the Caribbean.

Ireland had labelled the move a backward step for cricket development.

Though they reneged on the 2015 World Cup, the ICC said the 2019 event would be a 10-team event, with the top eight teams in the rankings gaining automatic qualification.

The other berths will be decided by a qualification competition.

Meanwhile, the ICC has opted to retain the 12-team format for the next two World Twenty20 Championships, scheduled for 2012 and 2014.