JOHANNESBURG, March 5: World Cup executive director Dr Ali Bacher defended the decision to include four minor team in the 2003 tournament on Wednesday and said he would like even more teams included next time.

Dr Bacher told a news conference that the decision to expand the tournament from 12 to 14 teams had “not devalued this event”.

He added: “I think that the Canadian team has brought a touch of freshness to certain parts of the tournament, Holland too and Namibia — Namibia played very well against England.

“If we had 16 teams, you would probably end up with four sections which, from a time point of view would be shorter, which would be better.

“It’s just a thought, it won’t be my decision.”

The inclusion of two extra minor teams stretched the 2003 event to over six weeks.

Canadian all-rounder John Davison scored the fastest ever World Cup century against Indies and the Canadians also beat Test nation Bangladesh. Kenya pulled off another big upset by beating Sri Lanka and, aided by a match forfeit, reached the second round.

Otherwise, the tournament’s minnows have struggled with the step-up in class, with some commentators suggesting the World Cup should be cut back to eighth team.

Of the first 40 games in the tournament, 25 involved at least one minor side.

The Super Six will also feature two sides, Kenya and Zimbabwe, who are expected to struggle in the second round.

Both were helped in qualifying by other sides forfeiting matches against them over security concerns. Zimbabwe edged through ahead of England when their final group game in Bulawayo against Pakistan was rained off.

Heath Streak’s team only needed to beat Holland and Namibia, both amateur sides, to reach the second stage.

Dr Bacher, though, argued the decision not to organise reserve days for rain-affected matches in the pool stage was not a major problem.

“Logistically it would have been almost impossible to manage,” Dr Bacher said.

“There were 40 pool matches...only on two occasions did rain interfere — not a bad record. Thirty-eight matches ended up being a clear result.”

West Indies, who also fell at the first hurdle, lost two points against Bangladesh in another wash-out.—Reuters