Canada unhappy with reduced World Cup

Chandra Gocool, Cricket Canada's chief executive, has questioned the ICC's thinking on developing cricket around the world following the decision to shrink the 2015 World Cup to 10 teams, but expand the World Twenty20 to 16 teams.

"Being an Associate Member country that has moved past T20 being the 'lightning rod' to our development, as we play the other two forms of the game currently, it begs the question - what do we aspire to?" Gocool told ESPNcricinfo.

The ICC has asked its governing council to examine the issue of qualification for ICC global events and make recommendations to the board, but Gocool says a 10-team event makes the likelihood of an Associate Member playing in the World Cup a challenging prospect. "Much depends on what the qualification process will look like for Associates to grow and be able to be part of this event in future."

Canada has played in the 1979, 2003 and 2007 World Cups and while they have not thought through what kind of qualification process they would like, one thing they do want is a "workable ranking system and clear criteria developed to provide the top Associates reasonable opportunities to match their skills against the Full Member countries."

Gocool said there had been no conversations between the ICC and Canada about the proposals since they were first put forward by the ICC's chief executives committee last month. At the time he said the proposals would create a glass ceiling and the "challenge will be [to see] how we break through."

Still Gocool was hopeful that a system could be found that would benefit everyone. "Time will only tell, but the hope is still there that there will be opportunities for Associate Member countries to pit their prowess against the best."