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SYDNEY. — Sachin Tendulkar has called the ICC’s decision to reduce the number of teams in the 2019 Cricket World Cup “a backward step” in the global expansion of cricket and described the lack of consistent matches available to Associate sides as “unfair”.

Tendulkar, an ambassador for the World Cup on behalf of the ICC, told an audience at an exclusive dinner in Sydney that the ICC should instead be exploring ways to expand the next World Cup to as many as 25 teams.

He also suggested Full Member nations should regularly play their “A” sides against Associates and strive to provide a “fair platform” for smaller cricketing countries.

“I found out the next World Cup would only be ten teams,” said Tendulkar. “Which is slightly disappointing because as a cricketer I want the game to be globalised as much as possible and, according to me, this is a backwards step.

“We’ve got to find ways of encouraging the lesser teams.”

Tendulkar also contradicted the views of ICC chief executive David Richardson, who defended the planned reduction of teams from 14 to 10, by suggesting, “The World Cup itself, the premium event, without exception should be played between teams that are evenly matched and competitive.”

Richardson’s statement has been widely challenged, with only one match so far between Full Member nations — New Zealand’s one-wicket victory over Australia — considered to be competitive.

In stark contrast, some of the matches between Associates have provided the most keenly fought contests, Ireland scored a notable result by defeating West Indies and Afghanistan capped off their remarkable rise in qualifying for the World Cup by overcoming Scotland in a final-over thriller.

“The lesser teams have, in each and every World Cup, they always surprise top teams,” Tendulkar said.

“And they can do it on a consistent basis only if they’re given a fair platform to express their talent. — AFP.