Irish chief urges ICC to rethink World Cup qualifying ruling

CRICKET IRELAND chief executive, Warren Deutrom, has warned a “concrete ceiling” will be imposed on the game here if the International Cricket Council (ICC) decides to prevent non-Test playing nations from participating in the 2015 World Cup.

Ireland open their campaign in the 50-over tournament against co-hosts Bangladesh in Dhaka tomorrow but the decision to reduce the playing field from 14 teams to 10 for 2015 has placed their future participation in jeopardy.

It remains to be seen if the associate countries — those ranked below the games traditional powerhouses — will be offered the opportunity to qualify or if it will be reserved for the likes of England, Australia, India and Pakistan.