ICC reverses World Cup decision

Today's ICC announcement India will defend their title at a 2015 World Cup which, like this year's tournament, will feature 14 sides

The ICC have today announced they will retain the successful 14-team format for the 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand

The ICC executive board has reversed its previous decisions and approved a 14-team format for the 2015 World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand and a 12-team format for the ICC World Twenty20 events in 2012 (Sri Lanka) and 2014 (Bangladesh).

The board had previously decided in October 2010 that the World Cup would comprise a 10-team event and that the World Twenty20 events would involve 16 teams.

In April 2011, the board had agreed that only the full members would participate in 2015 and that all members would be given an opportunity to participate in the 2019 World Cup through a qualification process.

In Hong Kong today, the ICC executive board opted to retain the 14-team format that was used at the highly successful and universally acclaimed World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka with the 10 full members being joined by four associate or affiliate qualifiers.

The World Twenty20 in 2012 and 2014 will now remain as 12-team events (10 full members and two associate/affiliates), which has been the format for the World Twenty20 events since its inception in 2007.

Following a presentation on the ICC rankings system by statistician David Kendix, who devised and operates the system on behalf of the ICC, the executive board has confirmed that the ICC rankings are suitable for use in determining qualification for ICC global events, subject to any regulatory amendments necessary to protect the integrity of the system.

In addition, the board confirmed that the World Cup in 2019 would be a 10-team event with the top eight in the reliance ICC rankings earning their qualification automatically with the remaining two places being decided by a qualification competition.

The board also confirmed the introduction of the promotion/relegation system previously agreed.

The Future Tours Programme for the period May 1 2012 to April 30 2020, which was proposed by the ICC chief executives’ committee on Monday, was adopted by the executive board.

It was also agreed that compensation for unequal tours would remain unchanged.

The board agreed with the CEC and cricket committee that a Twenty20 international rankings table should be created from October 1 2011, revised formats for one-day internationals and the need for further research on the balls to be used in day/night Test cricket.

They also agreed that batsmen should be dismissed (obstructing the field) if they change their course while running to prevent a run-out chance, the running out of a non-striker who is backing up unfairly and the prohibition of the use of runners in all forms of international cricket.