Ponting questions inclusion of minnows

Ricky Ponting has questioned the presence of weaker teams in premier events, and said that they would benefit from playing competition of similar strength, instead of top-ranking teams. The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting as saying, "I'm not really sure on these sort of teams, the US and Bangladesh, and those sorts of sides."

"Those sort of sides would be better served playing against opposition that are of a similar standard. I don't know how they learn a lot from getting belted all over the place and then getting bowled out for nothing," Ponting said to Fox Sports. "I don't understand that. I guess the players in those sides are the best judges of that. But if you sat back and watched, you'd find it pretty hard for them to find too many positives."

Ponting was not impressed by the opposition, but shrugged it off as just another day on the job. "It's an odd one but it's not the first time we've done it. In these tournaments in the past you come up against sides you have never seen before and you might not see again."

The ICC's plan to expand cricket has come under fire, for many feel it does not give a number of countries enough opportunities, while others, like Bangladesh, suffer repeated defeats. Incidentally, while a weakened Zimbabwe was barred from playing Test cricket till 2005 - the ICC was worried about diluting the quality of Test cricket - Bangladesh has not come under the ICC's scanner.