Ireland and Afghanistan provide hope for smaller cricketing nations!

Colin E. H. Croft
News that Afghanistan has qualified for International Cricket Council’s premier event, 2015 50-overs World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand, reminds us that cricketing miracles and great achievements are still very possible.  Afghanistan has outdone even its wildest aspirations, making history!
Interestingly, they follow the similarly massive exploits of Ireland to get to these vaunted heights!
Considering that Afghanistan is still in the midst of a war that started back in 1980 when USSR/ Russia invaded, only for them to be ousted, and replaced by another war, featuring some Afghani entities and United States of America, this is one of those sporting achievements that defy logic of civilian existence.
[url=http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/10/06/ireland-and-afghanistan-provide-hope-for-smaller-cricketing-nations/]PUBLISHED IN KAITEURNEWS

Hmm.... Associate cricket is likely die off after the 2015 CWC, as ICC has said that it'll allow only 10 teams to participate in the 2019 CWC.

Also, ICC has changed the format of the T20 CWC, to exclude the possibility of associate nations playing against test nations.

Right now the only time we see associates playing cricket is in the CWC. And that is going to end in 2015.

RIP (associate) cricket.

May be soon they'll find ways to exclude Zimbabwe, West Indies, Sri Lanka, NZL, South Africa.etc. from the major competitions.... after all they are not strong financial markets. Probably by 2023, the CWC will be a 4 or 5 team event.

It's ridiculous to exclude the associate teams just because some of the matches aren't competitive enough. The only way they will improve is by playing against stronger teams, and the more often the better. A few years ago Kenya were doing really well, but now because of lack of opportunity, they don't seem to be able to compete against anyone.

[quote author=The Chairman link=topic=83978.msg524503#msg524503 date=1381078746]

Colin E. H. Croft
cricketing miracles and great achievements are still very possible.

[/quote]

Should Trinidad push for associate status and Divorce :

the WICB ?  :-\