Daijiworld Media Network
London, Jun 28: Contrary to earlier announcements, the next ICC World Cup in 2015 will feature 14 and not 10 nations. The ICC had in April said that only the test playing nations would be eligible for the next World Cup.
ICC also added that the World Cup in 2019 will feature only 10 nations.
The next World Cup is scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
The change in the decision comes after the ICC faced flak from the non-test playing nations and associate cricketing bodies like Canada and Ireland who said that it would hamper their prospects to improve at the game.
Cricket Australia, the host of 2015 World Cup said it would not make any difference to the preparations.
Also, the 2012 and 2014 Twenty20 tournaments to be held in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will now be 12-nation events and not feature 16 teams.