Ireland has proved to the world that they are the team to count in future with their thumping wins in this world cup. Not only that, they have also shown high resistance in the games that they had lost and the oppositions had to huff and puff before defeating them. Its really a sign to the world that they are gaining more experience. No wonder that this team will reach great heights in the near future and this team will carry a few feathers in this worldcup with them back as experience.

Irish cricketers have recently clamoured for inclusion in the test game, and, on the basis of recent results, in as much as T20 bears any relation to test cricket, rightly so. Given the continued plight of Bangladesh, who really should not be a test playing nation given the facility with which teams beat them, why not have Bangladesh and Ireland play reciprocal 3 or 4 test series, in Ireland/England (I'm uncertain whether Ireland has a test standard ground) and Bangladesh, with the overall victor then given a fixed tenure as a test nation?

Other than that it would deprive the BCCI of a guaranteed vote in the ICC of course...

Shan, I thought so but EAP are way below standard than other regions. May be it could be done this way. The qualifier from EAP vs Qualifier from Americas & the winner qualifies to the tournament.

Laksh, nice...

but would like a qualifier from Oceania(EAP region) also, as only they r left behind in ur proposal...

Americas - Oceania Cup: Group A: Australia (2) Canada (16) +1 Qualifier from Americas Region

Group B: New Zealand (4) West Indies (8) +1 Qualifier from EAP Region

Asia Cup: Group A: India (3) Bangladesh (9) Afghanistan (15)

Group B: Pakistan (5) Srilanka (7) +1 Qualifier ACC Trophy

Afro - Euro Cup: Group A: South Africa (1) Ireland (11) The Netherlands (12) +1 Qualifier ACA Trophy

Group B: England (6) Zimbabwe (10) Kenya (13) Scotland (14)

Americas - Oceania Cup: Australia (2) New Zealand (4) West Indies (8) Canada (16) +1 Qualifier from Americas Region

I know it sounds crazy but its better to have such tournaments than sense less "Champions Trophy" every 2 years. I also know there will be lot of one sided games but soon the game will expand & one would see more competition.

I agree with Mihir. Ireland deserves a better treatment vis-a-vis other associate nations. Ireland is the only international side, which has not lost even a single match out of its first 5 T20 Internationals.

To help the European Associates there should be a "five nations" event every year for a fortnight, 50 overs events including Scotland, Ireland, Holland, England and a touring team. This could also provide some terrestrial coverage to bring cricket to the greater populous. And the money should hopefully allow some central contracting to take place at the Associate level.

Rather than Kolpaks the counties should be allowed to take a player from an associate nation.

Also the ECB should get onto the BBC now and arrange for county cricket to be live on BBC3 - which doesn't broadcast until 7pm. This will allow pensioners and schoolkids to watch cricket free of charge and build up awareness of the game nationally. Also how about the removal of full member status from Bangladesh and creation of rest of the world test team from associate players. This could host games in various associate nations building awareness and with some local interest in test cricket. Want an article on this?

So, Uganda misses out again! Much as I support Terry Jones' general thesis, he seems blissfully unaware that Uganda rank 20th in the ICC table, USA a good bit further down. I note his note: *USA was promoted etc. This was done unilaterally - like the promotion of Bangladesh to Test cricket. It reminds me of Arsenal's promotion to the English first division after the First World War (they'd been fifth in division two in 1914-15), when financial strings were pulled. We have a super ground at Lugogo in Kampala, and a national team, an Under-19s team and, by all accounts, Under-15s, Under-13s and women's teams worthy of gracing it. Give the Pearl of Africa her credit, please, Mr Jones!

Congrats to Ireland for another splended win. Hopefully the ICC will not dismiss Ireland after this one.

That said, the sad thing for Ireland is that dispite getting into the Super 8s in World T20, they still need to qualify for next years World T20, whereas Bangladesh & Australia (both out already) do not.

I believe that the ICC should: * Expand next years World T20 to 14 Teams (2x7, Semis & Final). * Teams that Qualify for this World T20 Super 8's should qualify for next years World T20. * Expand next years World T20 Qualifiers to 12 Teams (2x6), being Teams finishing 9-12 in this T20, Zimbarbwe and Top 7 Associate ODI teams that are not already listed. Top 3 teams from each group would qualify.

My guess is the 8 Auto Qualifiers would then be: SA, Ind, Pak, Eng, WI, SRL, NZ & IRL.

My guess is the 12 World T20 Q's would then be: Aust, BANG, Scot, NETH, (Zimb), Canada, Kenya, Afghan, UAE, Namibia, USA* & Bermuda. * USA was promoted by ICC into next years World T20 Q's.

Ireland Deserves to play more cricket than only appearances at world cups. ICC should arrange at least 10 -15 Odi's with Full Members a year for top 4 Associates who have qualified for 2011WC. Ireland Deserves to be Full Member as they are champions in First Class for Associates thrice in a Row even won ICC trophy . Don't know what is ICC waiting for