Now Reading: Scotland, Netherlands Slam ICC Over World Cup Format Changes
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Scotland, Netherlands Slam ICC Over World Cup Format Changes
Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) have criticised the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to overhaul the Men's ODI World Cup qualification pathway, branding it a setback for associate…
The Story in Brief
Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) have criticised the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to overhaul the Men's ODI World Cup qualification pathway, branding it a setback for associate nations. The revised format, announced in June, adds a Super Series and Super 7 round, meaning only the top team from the three lowest-ranked sides will join the main 12-team group stage.
The boards said the changes, made less than 18 months before the tournament, disrupt planning and create uncertainty. They questioned the lack of consultation, noting two official meetings with the ICC yielded no written response. An anonymous associate administrator told IANS the changes came 'out of the blue' for member nations.
The Indian Opinion
The ICC talks of making cricket global, yet its format changes shrink the stage for associate nations. The boards are right to demand transparency, but the bigger test will come at the next World Cup: how many associate teams actually qualify under the new system? If that number falls, the ICC's rhetoric will ring hollow.
Sources (3): sports.ndtv.com, sports.ndtv.com (2), timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
