Associates left out in the cold

Who do I bump into while transiting in Mumbai on my way to join the Hong Kong team in Dubai - none other than John Cribbin, Secretary of the Hong Kong Cricket Association.

John is in the business lounge, a doorway I walk through courtesy of Jet Airways who fly me Premiere Class. He has bad news to impart: The International Cricket Council has confirmed that the next World Cup in 2015 in Australia and New Zealand will be confined to the 10 test-playing nations only.

This is seriously bad news, and coming on the eve of the ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament which gets underway in Dubai on Friday, it is deflating. Let's hope Najeeb Amar and his men ignore this setback. Najeeb has had dreams of one day taking part in the World Cup and had thought, like most others, that the Dubai tournament was a pathway towards realising those dreams.

"This is a kick in the teeth to all associate members," says Cribbin who is returning home after watching the World Cup final. He has for long been an advocate for associate countries being represented at the World Cup. The World Cup which ended last week had included four countries - Ireland, Canada, Kenya and the Netherlands. Next time there will be none. The Irish will take it the hardest. They proved their salt by defeating England this time. I can just imagine how Kevin O'Brien must be feeling.

The ICC say this move was made to reduce mis-matches and point to the one-sided nature of games involving Canada and Kenya. What about Zimbabwe? By taking away this carrot, what's the incentive remaining for the lesser nations now? The World Cup was the Holy grail. The ICC has crushed those hopes.

Mumbai, and indeed India, is still celebrating Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men's victory. It seems the Jet Airways business lounge is full of Hong Kong cricketing enthusiasts for I also bump into Papu Butani. He is all smiles for his beloved India has won. The papers are full of the fairytale finish. But for Hong Kong and the rest of the associate members, the World Cup will leave a bitter hangover, thanks to the ICC.