The freshly proposed 10-team model for 50-over World Cup has already been implemented this year.
Earlier, ICC executed the 14-team model with the top-ranked side walking into the tournament.
In the current model, only the top eight ICC ranked team obtains an automatic qualification into the World Cup. While the bottom ranked team, along with the associates, fight it out for a couple of berths in the coveted tournament.
Now, if we analyze, there exists both pros and cons for the 10-team and 14-team model for World Cups.
The Pros and Cons
Firstly, the quality of matches automatically improves in the World Cup finals with all ten teams having equal opportunities.
This also means that there are no easy points for top-rated teams in the competition.
With the 7-teams in a group format, there was a growing tendency of the giants bullying the minnows to seize a couple of walkover points. Teams turned out only to be surprised whenever there lied an upset around the corner.
Furthermore, with the current format, there is no guarantee for teams gaining their points looking at the associate nation.
With the earlier 14-team format, the ‘overawing’ factor affected played its part in performances during the competitions. Many a time, we saw lesser known players facing off against their heroes and role models. The current format tends to eliminate the factor.
That said, the 10-team model would see associates and the bottom-ranked team fight through the ranks through stiff competitions through the qualifiers.
If a team manages to seal a spot for themselves progressing through the qualifiers, the lower-ranked team would believe that they can overhaul any team on a given day, even reaching the knock-outs of the competition.
Moreover, the disparity between the associate nations and the powerhouses of world cricket only seem to increase with the current format.
Some of the lesser known teams might not have an opportunity to share the field with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers, with the current format.
Therefore, the quality of cricket amongst the associate nations might not improve drastically if they are not given an opportunity to feature against the greats of the game.
Porterfield points out ICC’s affinity to Big Cheques
Another important aspect mentioned by Irish captain William Porterfield, post the tournament was ICC’s interest in only the big cheques.
“How is there only two teams going (from the qualifiers) to a competition that’s played every 208 weeks. Also, you’ve got a six-week competition, to just play it so two or three big teams can play nine games on TV . Therefore, the ICC can cash in with a big cheque. and, a lot of teams are leaving here with nothing in their pocket,” said Porterfield during the post match conference.
Further, this exposes a large loophole within the system as the Irish captain mentioned that only if associate countries are given the motive to feature in the mega tournament such as WC 2019, only then their quality of cricket would improve.
“If countries don’t have a World Cup to look forward to or the possibility of getting to the World Cup… if they actually give that carrot, dangle it in front of countries. surely cricket is going to get better in those countries and actually expand,” Porterfield added.
The recently concluded tournament saw Afghanistan sneaking into the last two spots while and going on to win the tournament.
Which meant that consistent performers in the tournament, namely, Zimbabwe and Scotland, essentially had one bad game and were on their way out.
The Scotland Situation
Porterfield further was especially empathetic to the Scotland situation and how it all drew curtains for them.
“I’m not just saying that because we didn’t get there but I feel sorry for a lot of countries that are leaving here that don’t know what’s going to happen next week. Feel sorry for Scotland, how it ended for them. A lot of teams will leave here with nothing in their pocket. Scotland have come so close and yet so far themselves, but what have they got to look forward to for the next few years?,” questioned Porterfield.
No more one-sided affairs at WC?
Interestingly, with the advent of T20 cricket, the ODI format of the game has seen a dip in the crowd flocking in the stadium to witness 100-overs of cricket.
Also, if spectators are forced to see a giant bully a minnow nation at a premier tournament, it would affect the viewership as well as the revenue generated by the event.
Over the years, we have witnessed teams such as Kenya, Netherlands, Ireland and others, cause many upsets by overhauling a top-ranked team. With the presence of the current format, the underdog defeating a giant factor seems to be compromised with.
Many a time, we have witnessed associate teams, playing fearless cricket, opening up the tournament during the latter end of the group stages. The current format seems to eradicate all such keen contests.
The 10-team format has given greater weight to the ODI rankings. Which means, the bilateral ties till the cut-off dates hold immense values and do not remain arbitrary.
Organizational ruckus
This year’s World Cup Qualifiers was scheduled to be held at Bangladesh earlier. However, with Bangladesh progressing through due to automatic qualification, Zimbabwe had to host the tournament in haste, creating indecision.
Overall, in conclusion, for the sake of viewership and quality of cricket at the premier multi-lateral tournament of ODI cricket, the 10-team format is the way to go for the International Cricket Council (ICC).
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