In an April 4 meeting in Mumbai, the board had decided to
exclude all non-full members from the next World Cup and the move triggered a
protest from second tier sides such as Ireland and the Netherlands.
"After receiving representations from the associate and
affiliate members of the ICC, the ICC President Sharad Pawar has decided to
request the ICC executive board to revisit the issue in Hong Kong in
June," the statement read.
"I have given this matter further serious thought and
will request the board to consider this topic once more," Pawar was quoted
as saying in the statement.
Fourteen teams competed in this year's World Cup co-hosted
by eventual champions India, runners-up Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The Feb 19-April 2 tournament featured numerous group
matches in a format that many feared was vulnerable to corruptions.
Ireland felt they had justified their presence in the
tournament, where they upset England by producing the tournament's highest ever
successful run-chase.
Cricket Ireland cautiously welcomed Tuesday's announcement.
"It's a welcome development but it's still the first
step in a lengthy process because after all, it's the same individuals having
the same debate on the same issue. So clearly there needs to be some catalyst
for a change of heart," its chief executive Warren Deutrom said.
The length and format of the showpiece event — which lasted
43 days this year and featured several one-sided matches when Test playing
nations took on the second-tier sides — was criticized by many fans and pundits.
By restricting the 2015 event to only the 10 full members,
the ICC appeared to have addressed both issues. The governing body felt the
non-test playing nations would be better off competing in the Twenty20 World
Cup.
Ireland were particularly annoyed with the proposal because
they have been ranked 10th in the one-day world rankings for most of the last
four years, ahead of full member nation Zimbabwe.
Many top players also said teams such as Ireland should be
allowed to play in the World Cup so that they can continue to develop their
skills against stronger opposition.
Deutrom said the non-Test playing nations would need to
maintain the pressure on the ICC until the format was scrapped.
"I would like to think that the decision has been
revisited as a result of a reflection on their duty to the sport as a whole but
I suspect the reaction and the condemnation has had something to do with
it," he added.
"We have to keep the public pressure up. I suspect the
full members have been somewhat surprised by the reaction that has ensued
following their decision, not just by the non-Test countries but also by their
current and former players.
"We will not let this matter lie. It is wrong, everyone
knows it's wrong. The decision must be overturned." The ICC board had also
agreed in Mumbai that the 10 teams for the 2019 World Cup would be determined
on the basis of qualification.
