Top players back minnows for next World Cup

Debate about the involvement of the so-called minnow nations in future World Cups has intensified, with some of the world?s top cricketers backing their right to compete in future tournaments.

Under current ICC proposals the Associate nations would be excluded from future World Cups from 2015, but six of the game?s leading players interviewed in the March issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine disagree with the idea.

Graeme Swann, England said, ?Yes, of course the emerging nations should stay in it. Why would you want to take the world out of the World Cup? Shocks can happen.?

Shaun Tait, Australia said, ?There?s no reason why you can?t have those teams in the competition. To play against the best players and sides in the world is massive and I wouldn?t want to take that away from anyone.?

Kieron Pollard, West Indies said, ?They have a place on the world stage, so I have no problem with them being in the World Cup.?

A.B. de Villiers, South Africa, said, ?They should. It makes it more colourful and it?s good for the growth of the game. Playing on the subcontinent levels things out and they can be harder than the best teams because their bowlers are slower and it makes it tough for batsmen.?

Suresh Raina, India said, ?Yes. They don?t play big international series, so it?s only fair that they are allowed to participate in the World Cup. They can learn so much and improve.?

Brendon McCullum, New Zealand said, ?It?s great from their perspective that they?re there. Does it diminish the value of the tournament? I?m not entirely sure. They?re in at this stage, so we should respect that. It?s a little bit scary actually. All you think about is playing the knockouts, winning the big games. But to be part of the big moments you?ve got to overcome the banana-skin games.?

Veteran Kenya batsman Steve Tikolo too is in no doubt.

?Most definitely. The World Cup offers us the chance to test ourselves against the Test nations which we rarely do nowadays. If we can do well, then we can really push our case to have more games against the bigger teams. They?re the matches that everyone will judge us by,? he tells the magazine.