Much has been made of the one-sided games at the Cricket World Cup between the established test playing nations and the affiliate nations such as The Netherlands, Namibia, Canada and Kenya, and whether they deserve to be at the finals as the results have thus far gone as expected.
If cricket wishes to have more test playing nations it is vital that these nations take part. However the format for the World cup is appalling and incredibly boring. It is time that the ICC restored the four teams in a group format, rather than two groups of seven teams. Then one slip up against a minnow could see you out of the competition. This makes the group stage more interesting and appealing, and also we move onto the knockout stage much quicker.
Whoever came up with the current format should be drummed out of the game as they are killing the tournament as a spectacle.
That is our view what do you think?
Thanks John I was aware that the qualifying tournament was held a while ago, but not that Afghanistan were currently the strongest non test playing nation.
As you state the qualifying tournament needs to held closer to the world cup of that there can be no doubt.
Just a point of clarification. The ICC held the qualifying tournament for the ‘Associate’ nations 2 years ago. It is generally accepted that Afghanistan is currently the second best of the so called minnows however they did not qualify for this world cup as 2 years ago they we not that good. Conversely Kenya did very well at the qualifying tournament however that team bears little resemblance to the one playing at the moment. 2 years 2 long perhaps.