‘Afghan nation will suffer because of ICC’s decision’
Board joins condemnation for slashing World Cup teams.
KARACHI:
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has lashed out at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to restrict the 2015 and 2019 World Cups to just ten teams, arguing that the whole Afghan nation will suffer because of that decision.
In a recent meeting, the ICC decided to exclude Associate members from the 2015 edition and cut down the number of participants from 14 to ten. The decision received widespread condemnation from the developing cricketing nations including Ireland, Bermuda and Scotland with Afghanistan voicing their concern as well.
“We strongly condemn the decision,” the ACB Chief Executive Officer Nasimullah Danish told The Express Tribune. “The decision should not have been reached because it would affect cricket in all the associate countries.”
Danish felt that his country would be affected the most by the ICC’s decision.
“We’d been facing wars and atrocities for a few decades and cricket, in recent years, became the only source of joy for the people in Afghanistan. The game, to some extent, became the binding factor and the entire Afghan nation will suffer because of this decision.”
He added that the ACB was targeting the World Cup and its people wanted to see their team taking on the bigger nations.
“We started as an associate with the World Cup in mind. The entire country wants to see the team in the World Cup and is shocked and dejected by the ICC’s decision. Our performance in recent times has been exemplary and we just didn’t deserve the fate.”
‘Hold a Mini World Cup’
Danish said that if ICC did not have any other options other than to reduce the teams competing in the World Cup, it should initiate a tournament under the banner of a Mini World Cup.
“The ICC should initiate a mini World Cup of the associate members that have the ODI status. “There should also be more tournaments like the Asia Cup. Though it will not be enough, it will still help the associate members.”
Ready for action against
the ICC
The Ireland Cricket hinted at taking action against the ICC and the ACB chief said his board would join in.
“It is a joint issue of all the Associate Members and we would work together to resolve it. We would hold the meeting soon and would act according to the decisions taken in it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2011.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has lashed out at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to restrict the 2015 and 2019 World Cups to just ten teams, arguing that the whole Afghan nation will suffer because of that decision.
In a recent meeting, the ICC decided to exclude Associate members from the 2015 edition and cut down the number of participants from 14 to ten. The decision received widespread condemnation from the developing cricketing nations including Ireland, Bermuda and Scotland with Afghanistan voicing their concern as well.
“We strongly condemn the decision,” the ACB Chief Executive Officer Nasimullah Danish told The Express Tribune. “The decision should not have been reached because it would affect cricket in all the associate countries.”
Danish felt that his country would be affected the most by the ICC’s decision.
“We’d been facing wars and atrocities for a few decades and cricket, in recent years, became the only source of joy for the people in Afghanistan. The game, to some extent, became the binding factor and the entire Afghan nation will suffer because of this decision.”
He added that the ACB was targeting the World Cup and its people wanted to see their team taking on the bigger nations.
“We started as an associate with the World Cup in mind. The entire country wants to see the team in the World Cup and is shocked and dejected by the ICC’s decision. Our performance in recent times has been exemplary and we just didn’t deserve the fate.”
‘Hold a Mini World Cup’
Danish said that if ICC did not have any other options other than to reduce the teams competing in the World Cup, it should initiate a tournament under the banner of a Mini World Cup.
“The ICC should initiate a mini World Cup of the associate members that have the ODI status. “There should also be more tournaments like the Asia Cup. Though it will not be enough, it will still help the associate members.”
Ready for action against
the ICC
The Ireland Cricket hinted at taking action against the ICC and the ACB chief said his board would join in.
“It is a joint issue of all the Associate Members and we would work together to resolve it. We would hold the meeting soon and would act according to the decisions taken in it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2011.