Will associate teams be part of World Cup 2019?

Published February 27, 2015
Chief executive officer of International Cricket Council (ICC) David Richardson speaks during a news conference. — Reuters/File
Chief executive officer of International Cricket Council (ICC) David Richardson speaks during a news conference. — Reuters/File

SYDNEY: The number of teams taking part in the 2019 World Cup in England has not yet been set in stone, the International Cricket Council said on Friday.

The global governing body has come under fire for its plan to cut the number of teams involved in England in four years' time to 10 from 14, taking part in the ongoing tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

But ICC chief executive David Richardson, in a telephone interview on Friday, said: “I've learnt never to say never to anything. I'm sure the format of the next World Cup will be debated after this one has finished."

Ireland defeated a Test playing nation for the third time in successive World Cup when they thrashed the two times World Champion West Indies in a group stage match. Ireland previously defeated England in 2011 World Cup after beating Pakistan in 2007 World Cup.

"I'm pleased with the performances of the qualifiers so far, but the bigger tests are still to come," said Richardson.

Opinion

Editorial

Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...
Ties with Tehran
Updated 24 Apr, 2024

Ties with Tehran

Tomorrow, if ties between Washington and Beijing nosedive, and the US asks Pakistan to reconsider CPEC, will we comply?
Working together
24 Apr, 2024

Working together

PAKISTAN’S democracy seems adrift, and no one understands this better than our politicians. The system has gone...
Farmers’ anxiety
24 Apr, 2024

Farmers’ anxiety

WHEAT prices in Punjab have plummeted far below the minimum support price owing to a bumper harvest, reckless...