Under fierce criticism from associate members, the International Cricket Council (ICC) made a U-turn on Tuesday and decided that 14 teams will participate in the 2015 World Cup, a change from the earlier ten-team format announced earlier in 2011.
Four associate teams will play the next World Cup alongside 10 full members, reports ESPN cricinfo. The decision to reinstate the associates in the mega-event was taken on the third day of the ICC’s annual conference in Hong Kong.
On Monday, the ICC’s chief executives’ committee (CEC) recommended to the executive board that there should be a qualifying tournament for associates for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. ESPN cricinfo reported that the executive board acted on the CEC’s recommendation and ensured participation of associate teams by expanding the tournament from 10 to 14 teams.