Comment: The Associates must forever be associated with the World Cup
Instead of decreasing the number of participants, the ICC should be looking to increase it.
Associate nations bring their own flair and beauty to the world of cricket — raw and inexperienced players playing with their hearts on their sleeves. PHOTOS: AFP
FIFA challenged the elites of football — the powerhouses of Europe and South America — by giving hosting rights of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in order to expand the game. On the other hand, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is doing the exact opposite to ensure that the monopoly of Test-playing nations prevails above all else.
Football’s governing body snubbed bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the US to ensure that the mega event is hosted by the ‘Arab World’ as they have never done so before.
On the other hand, the ICC is planning to cut down the number of participating nations to just 10 for the 2019 World Cup, but are being given a harsh reality check by scintillating performances from the minnows in the ongoing mega event in Australia and New Zealand.
Associate teams Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and UAE have all shown great skill and character so far and few, if any, matches involving these four minnows have been one-sided.
As if to further showcase their mettle and value, they have been involved in all of the tournament’s better matches. First they took on the Test-playing nations and went blow for blow with the very best. Ireland defeated the West Indies, UAE nearly pulled off an upset against Zimbabwe, Scotland took seven wickets against New Zealand in a low-scoring thriller, and Afghanistan pushed Sri Lanka till the end.
Then they took on each other and produced easily the two best matches in the tournament so far. First Ireland scraped over the line by two wickets against UAE and then so did Afghanistan, by one wicket, against Scotland. Both matches went into the final over, both could have ended in favour of either team, and all four involved looked down and out at one point or the other only to then come roaring back into the tie.
All this while the giants show how fallible they are. Pakistan and England have struggled, so have perpetual chokers South Africa. There is little to suggest why the Associates should not be given a better status.
Associate nations bring their own flair and beauty to the world of cricket — raw and inexperienced players playing with their hearts on their sleeves. The bustling run-up of Shapoor Zadran and his unending desire to outdo batsmen with his pace and bounce, Kevin O’Brien’s defiance even in the face of defeat and his penchant to grab victory from its jaws, the unorthodox but effective tennis-ball shots of Shaiman Anwar and the unbridled joy of Josh Davey as he takes wicket after wicket.
But soon these wonderful sights, restricted to viewers of mainstream cricket to once every four years as it is, may be a thing of the past. The ICC is sending a message that these Associates are unwelcome and by not allowing these plucky nations to create their cricketing heroes, they are preventing kids from these countries from picking up the bat and ball.
From bribery allegations to climate issues, the 2022 football World Cup has already had its fair share of controversies but when push comes to shove, FIFA is sending out a clear message that it wants the World Cup to be all encompassing. The ICC must take note.
Instead of decreasing the number of participants, the ICC should be looking to increase it. Cricket’s biggest charm is in its biggest tournament and by making it exclusive, the ICC are denying the sport its only chance of ever becoming a truly global one.
Big teams do not wish to play with the Associates due to decreased monetary benefits and their only hope of survival is to thrive on the appeal of the World Cup.
These four unfancied nations — Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan and the UAE — have all more than staked a claim at a World Cup spot for keeps.
The ICC may reap the monetary benefits of focusing on the giants of cricket, but by ignoring the Associates, it is making the sport all the poorer.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2015.
Football’s governing body snubbed bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the US to ensure that the mega event is hosted by the ‘Arab World’ as they have never done so before.
On the other hand, the ICC is planning to cut down the number of participating nations to just 10 for the 2019 World Cup, but are being given a harsh reality check by scintillating performances from the minnows in the ongoing mega event in Australia and New Zealand.
Associate teams Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and UAE have all shown great skill and character so far and few, if any, matches involving these four minnows have been one-sided.
As if to further showcase their mettle and value, they have been involved in all of the tournament’s better matches. First they took on the Test-playing nations and went blow for blow with the very best. Ireland defeated the West Indies, UAE nearly pulled off an upset against Zimbabwe, Scotland took seven wickets against New Zealand in a low-scoring thriller, and Afghanistan pushed Sri Lanka till the end.
Then they took on each other and produced easily the two best matches in the tournament so far. First Ireland scraped over the line by two wickets against UAE and then so did Afghanistan, by one wicket, against Scotland. Both matches went into the final over, both could have ended in favour of either team, and all four involved looked down and out at one point or the other only to then come roaring back into the tie.
All this while the giants show how fallible they are. Pakistan and England have struggled, so have perpetual chokers South Africa. There is little to suggest why the Associates should not be given a better status.
Associate nations bring their own flair and beauty to the world of cricket — raw and inexperienced players playing with their hearts on their sleeves. The bustling run-up of Shapoor Zadran and his unending desire to outdo batsmen with his pace and bounce, Kevin O’Brien’s defiance even in the face of defeat and his penchant to grab victory from its jaws, the unorthodox but effective tennis-ball shots of Shaiman Anwar and the unbridled joy of Josh Davey as he takes wicket after wicket.
But soon these wonderful sights, restricted to viewers of mainstream cricket to once every four years as it is, may be a thing of the past. The ICC is sending a message that these Associates are unwelcome and by not allowing these plucky nations to create their cricketing heroes, they are preventing kids from these countries from picking up the bat and ball.
From bribery allegations to climate issues, the 2022 football World Cup has already had its fair share of controversies but when push comes to shove, FIFA is sending out a clear message that it wants the World Cup to be all encompassing. The ICC must take note.
Instead of decreasing the number of participants, the ICC should be looking to increase it. Cricket’s biggest charm is in its biggest tournament and by making it exclusive, the ICC are denying the sport its only chance of ever becoming a truly global one.
Big teams do not wish to play with the Associates due to decreased monetary benefits and their only hope of survival is to thrive on the appeal of the World Cup.
These four unfancied nations — Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan and the UAE — have all more than staked a claim at a World Cup spot for keeps.
The ICC may reap the monetary benefits of focusing on the giants of cricket, but by ignoring the Associates, it is making the sport all the poorer.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2015.