When they counted the number of unexpected no-shows late on Day 23 of the World Cup, four of the big names had been eliminated and the system, always a dodgy one despite claimants that it was foolproof, was questioned — as it had been in 1999.At that time Australia, having lost first-round games to Pakistan and New Zealand, managed to qualify for the Super Sixes on a points/run rate advantage when they attempted to fiddle the books, as it were, against the Kiwis. The idea was to eliminate the Kiwis on runrate and drag the West Indians through.The Australians went through without a point but won the World Cup anyway.Little wonder the International Cricket Council are going to revisit the issue and look at a team expansion plan. This emerged during discussions this week with ICC and World Cup 2003 committee members.While the Super Sixes plan seemed a fair one, and without manipulation it could work for those who qualify, there are flaws, as the 2003 World Cup indicated. Which makes finding the right formula for the second stage of the tournament the important factor which needs examination for World Cup 2007 in the West Indies.16, NOT 14: One suggestion said to be considered is having four groups with four sides to a group; this means expanding the number of teams to 16. It has its critics as there will be, it is argued, too many weak Associate Members sides. There is a way around this.Kenya, being in the unusual position of having full ICC one-day international status, qualify anyway. Holland, Canada and Namibia emerged from the ICC 2001 tournament in Canada. But it was held some 18 months before World Cup 2003, which was the main weakness, and fortunately this format is being revised.Now the ICC have a plan to run regular qualifying group tournaments for the associates, funded from the global advertising rights. Anyway, as a way of growth and development, Holland should be given full ODI status by the ICC.Scotland have more clubs, players and a tradition than Holland and Kenya combined and the ICC should look more favourably on their efforts as well. If they could give Bangladesh full LOI status, there is no harm in doing the same for areas where the game have well-developed infrastructures.If Holland and Scotland are granted such recognition the need to find 16 sides becomes less problematical. This means the need to find three more sides from qualifying tournaments, and this is where the real minnows will emerge.But sensible planning is needed. For one thing, the ICC need to appoint financial curators to handle affairs to help eliminate the corruption which has seen Kenya, for one, rocked by allegations of financial mismanagement.TOO LONG: Also, this year’s World Cup was too long. Even Ali Bacher, the director of the CWC 2003 committee, finally admitted this. If the competition is streamlined to, say, 35 days, it creates two answers in solving this tricky conundrum.For one thing all teams below Test level, which are ranked according to results, need to be seeded in a similar way. Four groups should be worked out on seedings, or limited-overs international log tables with, under the present system, five associate member countries qualifying. Now this may seem a lot, but more teams means more exposure and eventually a better class of competition coming from the associate countries.Such expansion is good for the game. Giving Holland and Scotland LOI status means there is going to be a need for a seedings tournament among the three countries with Namibia and Canada drawn into the tournament to aid their development. It does not mean they will qualify for the Caribbean, but it should be considered.Kenya’s semi-final spot, no matter how artificial because of the system, has now seen them earn a place in the tri-nations tournament with South Africa and Sri Lanka. It is added exposure and a way of lifting their level and profile as it is growing the game at home.Practical logistics and economics would also mean a delaying of the Test nation rankings and the seedings of those associates who qualify for as long as possible. In 1999, and also this year’s event, the fixtures were made some 15 months in advance. They can be done six months in advance and the groups would be more equitable.Playing 16 teams in four groups makes for a faster first-round competition. This is followed by the Super Eights, where seedings play a role in who plays who; for one thing, it would eliminate the problem of 1999 and 2003, where teams were affected through matches not played for political reasons.Had the ICC World Cup organisers taken a long, hard look at the political snags, there would have been agreement over shifting matches. It was a tricky matter and the technical committee, for reason, seemed loathe to tackle the Zimbabwe issue. Such problems should not be allowed to invade future tournaments with the South Asian sub-continent asked to stage each alternate World Cup as a way of giving the most exposure to the game possible.
