Thaindian News

London, May 12 (IANS) The associate cricketing nations have welcomed the recommendation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) cricket committee to have qualifiers for the 2015 World Cup.

The recommendation to introduce qualifiers for the next World Cup was part of the decision taken during the cricket committee’s meeting at Lord’s Wednesday.

The news brings hope for the associate nations who severely criticised ICC’s earlier decision of limiting the 2015 World Cup to 10-full member nations.

“It is excellent news that another group of people have put their support behind the need for a qualifying process,” said Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom.

Former Ireland captain Trent Johnston, who was representing the associates in the cricket committee meeting, described the recommendation as a ‘great result’.

“Unanimous decision by ICC Cricket Committee to recommend to the Chief Executive Committee there be a qualifier for CWC 2015. A great result!” Johnston tweeted after the meeting.

The cricket committee, chaired by Clive Lloyd, will put forward all the recommendations to ICC’s chief executive committee, which will take the final call on the issue.

“It is obviously good for cricket and hopefully the ICC Executive Committee would accept the recommendation,” said an official of the Netherlands cricket board.

ICC chief Sharad Pawar had earlier intervened in the matter after constant opposition from the associates on a 10-team World Cup. Pawar requested the executive committee to reconsider the move following which the matter was taken up for discussion at Lord’s.