Simmons blasts 'despicable' ICC decision

Ireland coach Phil Simmons has added his voice to the growing condemnation of the International Cricket Council’s “despicable” decision to exclude associate nations from the 2015 World Cup.

Ireland captain William Porterfield and chief executive Warren Deutrom led the outpouring of emotion and disappointment yesterday after the ICC’s executive board resolved to cut the next edition of the tournament to 10 teams and hand automatic qualification to all full member nations.