Online petition to make ICC change Cricket World Cup 2019 stand
Ireland have played very well so far in the tournament. They have chased down stiff totals against Windies and UAE. (Source: AP)
Two weeks ago, Nick Sharland a fan from United Kingdom started an online petition through the activist website change.org. The petition titled “Reverse the decision to reduce the 2019 World Cup to ten teams”, is basically requesting the Internatioal Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider their plans to have just 10 teams in 2019. (Full Coverage| Venues | Fixtures)
So far, nearly 20,000 people have signed the petition. Fans also have an opportunity to also list the reason why they are supporting the petition. The petition can be found here: http://www.change.org/p/international-cricket-council-reverse-the-decision-to-reduce-the-2019-world-cup-to-ten-teams
What will be a big shot in the arm for the campaign is the support from Sachin Tendulkar, India’s legendary cricketer. Tendulkar is asking for 25 teams to be played at the 2019 World Cup. “Why not get Australia A, England A, New Zealand A, South Africa A, New Zealand A, India A, everyone, to go and visit these countries and play them on a regular basis,” Tendulkar said. “And see, not just 14 teams, but how can we get to 25 teams participating in the next World Cup?”
This is the message on the petition page urging all fans to join the movement.
Associate nations have proven already, in the ongoing World Cup and in previous editions of the tournament, that they are more than capable of competing with full member nations in international cricket.
Associate nations greatly enrich the competition: Kevin O’Brien’s century in Ireland’s victory over England in 2011 was voted the second-greatest World Cup moment of all time, and the ICC’s own twitter header picture used to feature a still from that match. There are many other examples of memorable associate victories over full members, and the gap between the two has never been smaller, if it even exists at all any more.
A two-stage format similar to the current World T20 competition would not correct this problem, as it severely limits the opportunities that associate nations get to learn from playing against the top professionals in the world – and, occasionally, beating them. The only way they will improve on their already impressive developments, and the only way cricket can improve, is by keeping associate nations and full members in the same draw at the World Cup.
No other global sport is seeking to contract its show-piece event, and neither should cricket. The decision to reduce the 2019 and 2023 World Cups to ten teams threatens not only the development of cricket in top associate nations like Afghanistan and Ireland, but the growth of cricket into a truly global sport. This should be the ICC’s greatest ambition, and a ten-team World Cup would shatter that dream. The decision must be reversed.
Source:: Indian Express
