Warren Deutrom, CEO, Cricket Ireland, was pleased after the ICC finally decided to expand the World Cup to make it more global; 14 teams will now participate from 2027 onwards. “We’re delighted at the decision to restore the event to 14 teams,” Deutrom told Sportstar. It had to come through a rigorous selection process – via the 2018 World Cup Qualifier - to make it to the 2019 World Cup, but narrowly lost out to Afghanistan. “For us, the World Cup holds a special place as the vehicle for putting Irish cricket on the map and helped enormously drive the growing popularity of the sport on our shores. Kevin O'Brien of Ireland celebrates with Niall O'Brien at the end of the 2011 ICC World Cup Group B match between England and Ireland at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, India.

Source: The Hindu June 06, 2021 05:03 UTC