ODI World Cup

A new controversy is brewing in the beginning of the World Cup 2011, apparently the World Cup team numbers will be reduced from 14 to 10.

The 50 over World cup will no longer play host to sub standard teams in the future, this is what has been decided by the ICC.

This fact has been confirmed by the ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, he has said that the decision to reduce the number of teams from the original 14 to 10 is final and they have no intention what so ever of going back on their word.

As per Haroon Lorgat, the Twenty20 format of cricket is much more favourable to be kept for the global development as opposed to the ODI (One Day International) format. T20 has been proved to be a faster more action packed as well as more glamorous format of the game of cricket.

Lorgat said “We have felt in the past few years that Twenty20 is the best format to develop the game world-wide and it provides a better environment for competition, The 50-over format is more skill-based and suitable for the top teams.”

Many agree with his logic but not for the right reasons, some cricket associations have commented explaining, if the ODI format is more skilled then the under performing countries should be given a good platform or drive to improve their game, not to be shunned from it entirely. If there is no room to show case the improvement then how will there be any scope for growth? These are some of the major concerns that were voiced by former Kenya captain Steve Tikolo among many others.

As per the ICC the main purpose behind this step is to improve the standard of the ODI World Cup. The most angered and hurt by this decision are the Associating countries that are most likely going to be left out from the World Cup in 2015.

Graeme Swann the England offspinner made a very cheeky yet apt statement regarding this matter; he said “Why would you want to take the world out of the World Cup?” He made a fair point, as we all know by now, the World Cup is filled with upsets of various kinds, a not well known or appreciated team coming from no where and knocking out a top ranking team, cricket it such a game that at a particular time it can be any teams day.

Like Swann, Shaun Tait of Australia and AB de Villiers of South Africa are completely opposed to this decision, de Villiers said “It makes it more colourful and it’s good for the growth of the game.”

The ICC’s solution to this reduction is the increasing of the number of T20 teams allowed to 16 in total.

This is a big mistake as we all know basic cricket is skill based which can only be found in Test and ODI and T20 will just be there to whack the ball. Is this the future we can see for cricket? If so, it is heartbreaking.

Tags: AB de Villiers, Cricket, Graeme Swann, Haroon Lorgat, ICC, ODI, ODI World Cup, One Day International, Shaun Tait, T20, Twenty20, World Cup, World Cup 2011