ICC decision to block Ireland takes the 'world' out of 'World Cup'

EMMET RIORDAN ON CRICKET:Without the possibility even of qualification, Ireland and other Associate nations have been ruled out of the 50-over event for at least eight years. And that is only if they can navigate whatever form of qualification tournament the ICC decide to put in place for the 2019 edition

ICC Code of Ethics 3.2

“Directors shall at all times serve the interests of the ICC and the sport of cricket as a whole. Directors shall not promote their own (or a group of) Cricket Board’s interests at the expense of the dignity, integrity or interests of the ICC or of the sport of cricket in general.”

FAR FROM the madding crowds of Mumbai and the boardrooms of the International Cricket Council the English cricket season cranked into gear with county sides taking on the universities ahead of the championship season.

And for two young Irish cricketers it brought early summer success as Andrew Balbirnie and Ben Ackland both scored half-centuries against county attacks for their university sides.

Irish cricket supporters were quick to pick up on their performances, many probably thinking ahead to the next World Cup and who will lead the next generation.

It certainly added to the afterglow of Ireland’s performances this time around; Kevin O’Brien’s record-breaking century in the incredible victory over England; Paul Stirling’s blitzing of the Netherlands to become the youngest centurion in World Cup history; George Dockrell’s talent and poise at just 18.

By Monday afternoon all that future gazing by players and supporters was blasted to smithereens with the force of a Lasith Malinga yorker as the custodians of the game took the world out of the World Cup with their startling decision to restrict the 2015 staging to just the 10 Full Member countries.

The news came as a real shock to both the Ireland players and administrators, with captain William Porterfield and Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom both forthright in their condemnation of the move that effectively rules Ireland out of the 50-over World Cup for at least eight years. And that is only if the country can navigate whatever form of qualification tournament the ICC decide to put in place for the 2019 event.

By that stage many of the present squad will be long retired, while the likes of Dockrell, who will be 26, and Stirling, who will be 28, are likely to have found their way into the England set-up if their present rate of progress continues. Balbirnie and Ackland may also join a lost generation.

Deutrom previously worked for the ICC, but even he was stunned by the fact that no qualification event was put forward, which was all the Associate countries were asking, having accepted that the 2015 World Cup would be contested by 10 teams.

He has helped oversee the implementation of the ICC’s own High Performance Programme for Ireland and alludes to the fact that maybe we were too successful in the eyes of those at the top table of the sport. After all, knocking Pakistan out of the 2007 World Cup, along with India also going out in the group stages, led to the new set-up for the 2011 event and now the closed shop for 2015.

“The ICC High Performance Programme exists to ensure there is a visible emergence of a second tier of nations,” said Deutrom.

“Arguably Ireland has achieved that objective so really the ICC should receive a pat on the back for producing what they wanted to produce.

“However, I’m guessing they didn’t realise what might happen is that it would potentially jeopardise their own entitlements and privileges. Clearly they all agree with meritocracy in principle but not if one of them has to lose out by consequence.”

And that is exactly the nub of the problem, growth of the game worldwide in the other 95 countries under the ICC umbrella is fine as long as it doesn’t affect the bottom line of the 10 fat cats. We’ll give you a few extras places at the World Twenty20 but that’s your lot.

Zimbabwe receives at least €7 million from the ICC every year regardless of performance, which in the recent World Cup was well below the standards set by Ireland.

And of course this is not all about Ireland, with countries like Afghanistan and Nepal showing incredible progress over the last five years and an appetite for much more. In the eyes of the ICC, though, they don’t see anything being brought to the table, no TV money at least and with the present deal estimated at $1 billion (€700 million) up for renewal in 2015, the pie may be about to get smaller.

Deutrom has already begun talks with the five other CEOs from the Associate nations who sit on both the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and the Executive Board to see what steps are open to them.

“They’re early ideas at the moment, we’re clearly going to have to work a lot harder over the next few days to determine what action we can take to persuade the ICC Executive Board to listen because clearly lobbying and persuasiveness are falling on deaf ears.”

The citation at the top of this article comes from the ICC’s very own code of ethics. It looks like their eyes, and their consciences, are failing them also.

WRONG CALL AN APPALLING DECISION, TWEETS DRICO

Off to dream about playing at the WACA in four years time . . . . . Oh no, wait. Nevermind.

– Gary Wilson (Ireland and Surrey)

How can a team ranked 10th in the World not qualify for a 10-team World Cup? Now that is Irish.

– Kyle McCallan (Ireland's record cap holder)

Appalling decision to reduce the number of teams in the next cricket world cup after our performance in this year's comp!

– Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland rugby captain)

Ireland should be given a chance to win a pre-tournament to qualify. And they would have done … best Minnow team by a mile.

– Michael Vaughan (Former England captain)

How are Ireland meant to progress? They've proved they can compete with the other larger cricket nations. ICC wrong again!

– Andrew Flintoff (former England all-rounder)