Associates back in 2015 World Cup

TUESDAY, JUNE 28: The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to reinstate Associates in the 2015 World Cup has been met by optimism from Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) president Reginald Pearman.

The 2015 World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand will now comprise of the 10 Full Member countries as well as four Associates.

During yesterday’s proceedings at the ICC’s annual conference in Hong Kong, the ICC’s chief executives’ committee (CEC) recommended to the executive board that there be a qualifying tournament for the 2015 World Cup involving Associates.

However, it was not specified how many countries would be involved in 2015 World Cup qualifiers nor was any recommendation to alter the competition’s format submitted.

The executive board eventually accepted the CEC’s proposal and expanded the 2015 World Cup from 10 to 14 teams, thus raising hopes that Bermuda will get the chance to qualify for world cricket’s premier tournament.

Commenting on this latest development, BCB president Pearman told the Bermuda Sun: “We have been offered a lifeline and hopefully we can take it. We are optimistic that everything will go through.”

Earlier this year the ICC came under heavy criticism for its decision to exclude Associates from the 2015 World Cup.