19 February,2011 10:39 AM IST | | AFP
Canadian coach Pubudu Dassanayake Friday branded the proposal by cricket's governing body to cut down on the number of teams in the next World Cup as a setback for minor nations.
The comments came after International Cricket Council chief Haroon Lorgat reiterated a plan to limit the number of teams from 2015 to 10 from the current 14, which is likely to see only Test-playing nations qualify in future.
"We are hugely disappointed and the decision is a big setback for teams like us," Dassanayake told reporters after his team's practice ahead of their opening match against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Dassanayake, who played 11 Tests and 16 one-day internationals for Sri Lanka before moving to Canada, said the decision would limit the chances for minor nations to improve.
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"Actually the ICC has helped us a lot in the last couple of years to come to this place and this decision will hurt countries like us," said Dassanayake, adding that Canada had made important strides in the game.
"Right now we are in a situation where we have lots of talent in the country and we are not that far from attaining full membership and when you compare the facilities we have, that's good progress," said Dassanayake.
The ICC's decision has also been criticised by other minor nations such as Kenya, Afghanistan and Ireland.
Dassanayake said Canada, currently an associate member of the ICC, needed opportunities such as the 50-over World Cup.
"It would have been nice to play continuously," said Dassanayake, whose team will be playing their fourth World Cup, and not taking part would be "a loss for us."
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The comments came after International Cricket Council chief Haroon Lorgat reiterated a plan to limit the number of teams from 2015 to 10 from the current 14, which is likely to see only Test-playing nations qualify in future.
"We are hugely disappointed and the decision is a big setback for teams like us," Dassanayake told reporters after his team's practice ahead of their opening match against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Dassanayake, who played 11 Tests and 16 one-day internationals for Sri Lanka before moving to Canada, said the decision would limit the chances for minor nations to improve.
"Actually the ICC has helped us a lot in the last couple of years to come to this place and this decision will hurt countries like us," said Dassanayake, adding that Canada had made important strides in the game.
"Right now we are in a situation where we have lots of talent in the country and we are not that far from attaining full membership and when you compare the facilities we have, that's good progress," said Dassanayake.
The ICC's decision has also been criticised by other minor nations such as Kenya, Afghanistan and Ireland.
Dassanayake said Canada, currently an associate member of the ICC, needed opportunities such as the 50-over World Cup.
"It would have been nice to play continuously," said Dassanayake, whose team will be playing their fourth World Cup, and not taking part would be "a loss for us."
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