Ireland 2015 World Cup hopes reignited by ICC president

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Page last updated at 10:56 GMT, Tuesday, 19 April 2011 11:56 UK

Ireland celebrate beating England at the cricket World Cup

Ireland seal shock win over England

Ireland could yet play in the 2015 World Cup after the International Cricket Council was asked to reconsider the composition of the competition.

In April the ICC announced a move to reduce places at the next World Cup from 14 to its 10 full members.

The likes of Ireland and Scotland have reacted angrily as they would miss out.

But ICC president Sharad Pawar has asked the executive board to reconsider the decision at the Annual Conference in Hong Kong in June.

As it stands only full ICC members - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe - will compete in four years' time

The possibility of a 12-team tournament was also discussed by the ICC's executive board at a meeting in Mumbai in April but it opted to approve its previous decision to have 10 teams.

But Pawar has responded to vociferous dissatisfaction among the associate and affiliate nations by requesting the executive board look again at the structure of the tournament.

An ICC statement read: "After receiving representations from the associate and affiliate members of the ICC, the ICC President Mr Sharad Pawar has decided to request the ICC Executive Board to revisit the issue in Hong Kong in June."

Pawar added: "I have given this matter further serious thought and will request the board to consider this topic once more. I can understand the views of the associates and affiliates and ICC will seek to deal with this issue in the best way possible."

Apart from Ireland, who beat England in 2011 and Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup, the other nations outside the ICC's full members to take part in the 2011 event were Kenya, Canada and the Netherlands.

Scotland, who were at the 1999 and 2007 tournaments, did not dispute the decision to limit the World Cup to 10 teams but argued there should be a qualification event.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan also called for a qualification tournament.

"I would have liked to have seen a pre-tournament qualifier with the likes of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe thrown in as well with Ireland, Canada, Kenya and all the other associates teams and the best two going on to the World Cup," said Vaughan.

"I'm pretty sure Ireland would have won that tournament because they are the best associate team and they showed that at the World Cup."

I suspect the full members have been somewhat surprised by the reaction that has ensued following their decision

Warren Deutrom Cricket Ireland chief executive

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom gave a cautious welcome to Tuesday's ICC statement but warned that the associate and affiliate nations would "keep up the pressure" on the issue.

"It's still the first step in a lengthy process because after all, it's the same individuals having the same debate on the same issue," added Deutrom.

"I would like to think that the decision has been revisited as a result of a reflection on their duty to the sport as a whole but I suspect the reaction and the condemnation has had something to do with it," he added.

"We have to keep the public pressure up.

"I suspect the full members have been somewhat surprised by the reaction that has ensued following their decision, not just by the non-test countries but also by their current and former players.

"We will not let this matter lie. It is wrong, everyone knows it's wrong. The decision must be overturned."

Ireland and Northants wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien told BBC Radio Northampton: "If we don't play in the next World Cup it's going to be very disappointing for me, but I think more importantly for the kids back home who are 14 or 15 who are looking at the likes of our performance against England, and the likes of my brother's [Kevin OBrien] great innings and thinking 'why not in four years when I'm 18 and 19, why can't I play in that, why can't I achieve that kind of goal?'

"It's about the kids and the next generation."

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