Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Affiliation (KNCB) have issued a strongly worded joint assertion expressing deep disappointment on the ICC’s latest modifications to the format of the Males’s ODI World Cup.
In keeping with the assertion, the 2 boards, together with different Affiliate Members, met with the ICC twice and sought official written communication on the modifications, in addition to higher readability across the course of concerned.
Nevertheless, they claimed that there’s been no response from the ICC greater than two weeks because the second assembly, calling it “disappointing” and “disrespectful”.
Deeming the modifications a setback to Affiliate Members, the assertion stated that the brand new format will “threat undermining the progress made lately to develop the worldwide sport”.
“At a time when cricket is looking for to develop its attain, entice new audiences and strengthen its place on the worldwide sporting panorama, lowering significant alternatives for rising nations sends fully the unsuitable message,” the assertion stated.
The boards additionally stated that vital selections, particularly these immediately affecting Affiliate Members, ought to solely be made after consulting with them and offering “adequate discover” in order that the implications are finest understood.
“The modifications threat weakening the integrity and credibility of worldwide cricket, and solely highlights the significance of sturdy governance, clear decision-making and efficient engagement with Members.
“Members and their gamers make investments years in making ready for World Cups, and confidence in these pathways relies on them not altering part-way by a qualification cycle with out session. Altering these constructions at brief discover creates vital uncertainty, disrupts planning, and locations extra operational and monetary stress on organisations which can be already working with restricted sources,” the assertion added.
The brand new format to the ODI World Cup, launched final month, will increase the variety of groups to 14 (from 10), but in addition consists of 4 rounds, with a round-robin “Tremendous Sequence” previous the group stage.
Out of groups 12, 13 and 14, two will progress to Spherical 2, eliminating one workforce instantly.
Each Netherlands and Scotland have superior to the World Cup qualifier, which is ready to be performed in February 2027. The venue for it’s but to be determined.
The format modifications to the ODI World Cup have led to quick considerations, particularly because the subsequent version is ready to start in October subsequent yr.
“The timing of those modifications, with lower than eighteen months till the match, has given affected Members restricted alternative to contribute to the method or adapt,” the assertion added.
“We imagine higher engagement with Affiliate Members would have supported a more practical and collaborative strategy and assist preserve confidence within the qualification pathway”.
