Page 54 - The Indian EYE 061121

SPORTS JUNE 11, 2021 | The Indian Eye 54

The World is Back

in the cricket World cup

reek philosopher Hera- difficult to digest. It is a cricket
clitus penned a famous sin for Full Members to not be
Gphrase, “Change is the a part of the World Cup. Zim-
only constant in life,” and it babwe & Ireland did not make
seems that the Cricket World it to the 2019 WC, and it is likely
Cup (CWC) formats took this that WC winner Sri Lanka may
quote a little too seriously. lose out on a spot next time.
Group stage, round-rob- Case & point is the 2018
in, Super Sixes, Super Eights, CWC Qualifier, one of the most
knockouts—you name it, the closely fought tournaments of
format has been experimented recent times. Scotland was in
with. sight of qualifying at the ex-
pense of the West Indies or Af-
History repeats itself BroKen cricKeT dreaMs ghanistan, when rain arrived,
From an 8-team event (1975, and Scotland magically lost by
1979), the CWC gradually grew NITESH MATHUR 5 runs due to the DL method.
to nine (1992), then 12 (1996, Zimbabwe also missed out on a
1999), 14 (2003), and finally www.brokencricketdreams.com qualification spot due a rained-
reached its inflection point of out match.
16 teams with the 2007 Cricket • World Test Championship Fi- revisiting the Glory days Even worse were the T20
World Cup. nal (2023, 2025, 2027, 2029, Remember Leverlock’s tournaments. After a 51-match
One of the fallouts of the 2031) one-handed stunner? Or qualification tournament,
poorly held 2007 WC was halt- At least one major tourna- Shapoor Zadran’s emotional teams would enter a 3-match
ing the gradual expansion of ment for both men & women celebration? ‘pre-qualification’ stage in the
Associate nations in World every year. This is what World Cups are actual world cup itself! Ludi-
Cups. With upsets from Ireland for—discovering new talents, crous.
& Bangladesh against Pakistan expansion is the Will of cherishing the moments, pro- In 2016, Bangladesh & Af-
& India, the ICC lost a major nature viding a platform for smaller ghanistan proceeded to the next
chunk of funding. The 54-match ODI World teams to grow, and promoting round while Zimbabwe, Scot-
2011 & 2015 World Cups Cup is expanded to a 14-team competition, not diminishing it. land, Hong Kong, Netherlands,
reverted back to the ‘90s for- affair (throwback to 2003) –2 The Associate Nations have Oman, & Ireland crashed out.
mats with an elongated 14-team groups of 7, followed by Super provided numerous moments Double disqualification, I
event, while the 10-team 2019 Sixes, and finally semi-finals & of glory—World Cup’s fastest like to call it.
& 2023 events revived the 1992 finals. century via Kevin O’Brien to it is the little Moments
round-robin structure, pro- The 55-match T20I World hand England a defeat in Ban- That Matter
viding more game time for big Cups will well and truly be a galore, Broad’s missed run-out Did we really need a World
teams. ‘world cup’—20 team tour- giving way for a Netherlands Cup to prove that the West Indi-
nament, 4 groups of 5, Su- victory, Zimbabwe’s defeat to ans were a class apart in the ‘80s
if it is Broke, fix it per Eight Stage, followed by world-beaters Australia in 2007, or the Australians were world’s
The ICC released a block- semi-finals & finals. The T20I and Bangladesh’s rise via CWC best in the 2000s?
buster World Cup schedule for World Cup will guarantee at victories against Pakistan (1999), No, but a World Cup or Olym-
the next decade: least 4 games for eight non- India, South Africa (2007), and pics is much more than that.
• Men’s ODI World Cup & Test playing nations. Massive England (2011, 2015). Surprises & uncertainty,
Women’s ODI Champions improvement. chills & thrills, sportsmanship &
Trophy (2023, 2027, 2031) With expanded World Gruesome Qualifier hope amidst despair, and unity
• Women’s ODI World Cup Cups, this provides incentive & Tournaments out of the in a divided world—that is what
& Men’s Champions Trophy motivation for Associate play- Window sport is all about.
(2025, 2029) ers to refrain from taking pre- After Afghanistan & Ireland It is about time cricket puts
• Women’s & Men’s T20I World mature retirements and seek- attained Test Status, the 2019 & the world back in its so-called
Cups (2024, 2026, 2028, 2030) ing opportunities elsewhere. 2023 formats were even more world cup.

www.TheIndianEYE .com