SYDNEY: The number of teams taking part in the 2019 World Cup hasn’t been finalised, the International Cricket Council told AFP on Friday as it responded to growing criticism that its proposed cut risked damaging the sport’s development.

Cricket chiefs have come under fire for their plan to reduce the number of teams involved in England in four years’ time to 10 from the 14 taking part in the ongoing tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

But ICC chief executive David Richardson, in a telephone interview with AFP, said on Friday: “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.

“I’m pleased with the performances of the qualifiers so far, but the bigger tests are still to come,” said Richardson. “The question is what do you want the World Cup to be? Do you want it to be a jamboree of world cricket or the pinnacle of the one-day game?”

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

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