WORLD CUP 2015

N Srinivasan backs 10-team format for next World Cup

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

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N Srinivasan, the ICC chairman, has backed the 10-team format for the next World Cup. Talking on the sidelines of the World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Srinivasan was also pleased at the crowds that have come in for the tournament. One of the burning questions of the World Cup has been the fate of the Associate nations with many players including the skipper of Ireland, William Porterfield making his displeasure evident with the decision to reduce the number of teams competing in the next World Cup.

However, Srinivasan defended the decision and said, "I think it has been very successful because we have seen that on a given day the top Associate is able to hold their own against the full members, Ireland versus West Indies for example. Even the next World Cup the top 8 will qualify, 9 and 10 will play qualifying along with 6 Associates."

He added that the teams will be playing a qualifying round and that will only help them further. Srinivasan also mentioned that the Associate nations have put up a good show in World Cup 2015.

"The Associates will still have a meaningful chance to enter the World Cup in the next edition. Honestly, I think the success of the Associates is the result of the development program of the ICC which has put a lot of emphasises on assisting the Associates technically as well as financially," he said.

Srinivasan was also very happy with the crowd attendance throughout the World Cup.

"I am told that over a million people have visited the various stadia to watch this match. I think it is the best attended World Cup that has been held and we have had many exciting games and we also have seen how fans have flocked to the stadia which is a very refreshing sight and it really emphasises the relevance of ODI cricket. Yes, in addition people have travelled. I think a lot of people from South Asia have travelled here to watch the World Cup. I think that is very significant because Australia and New Zealand so far away, still people have managed to travel across the world. And that is the ultimate lure of the World Cup," he told Star Sports.

The chairman's comments on the Associate nations and their future is bound to further the raging debate of the 10-team World Cup. Srinivasan's comments echo those of the ICC CEO David Richardson who had earlier stated that there will be no revision of the format.

© Cricbuzz

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