10-team Cup 'not the end of the world'

The World Cup should be a shop window not window dressing for the game's emerging nations, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson said on Thursday.

The ICC has been questioned for plans to reduce the number of teams at the 2019 World Cup in England from 14 teams to 10 - a move that could freeze out non-Test or Associate member nations from the showpiece tournament.

However, Richardson - who in a previous interview with AFP said the decision on the number of teams at the 2019 Cup could be revisited - insisted the ICC was committed to the long-term development of Associate cricket.

"To me, the debate should be more about what are we doing for Associate member cricket to enable them to qualify for a World Cup, whether it's an eight-team, 10-team, 12-team, 14 or 16-team. I think that's where we've made the most progress," Richardson told reporters at the SCG during the World Cup semi-final between Australia and India.

"There was even a suggestion we should have moved to a 10-team event for this tournament. The reason we didn't is because, at that stage, we had a glass ceiling.

"You could be Ireland or Afghanistan and you could get to No.11 in the world - you couldn't get to No.10 and you could never really qualify.

"So now we've changed that. We've allowed Ireland and Afghanistan the opportunity to play in the ODI (one-day international) FTP (Future Tours Program) - sure the challenge is going to be be finding them enough fixtures and that's a real focus we are going to be worrying about over the next couple of years so it's not just in name that they are part of that FTP, that they really have the fixtures," the former South African wicketkeeper added.

"I don't think it's the end of the world (going to 10 teams), especially now we've broken that glass ceiling for the Associates.

"We want the World Cup to not just be a window dressing but a shop window for cricket at the highest level. Maybe only 10 (teams) initially, but the idea is to grow it."

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Ireland players have been vocal about their future // Twitter

Meanwhile, Richardson said the ICC might alter fielding restrictions in one-day internationals after a plethora of sixes at this World Cup suggested the balance between bat and ball had swung too heavily in favour of batsmen.

"The cricket committee is going to look at the playing conditions again," Richardson said.

"One of the things we might look at is allowing an extra fielder out of the ring in the last 10 overs ... that might be a sensible change."