Specials – Associate nations at the World Cup, Part 5

The 16-team format used for the 2007 World Cup proved to be short-lived, as the tournament reverted to a two-group structure of 14 teams (as was the case in 2003, but with quarterfinals instead of the Super Six) for the next two editions. In this final part of our series on Associates at the […]

Specials – Associate nations at the World Cup, Part 3

As seen in Part 2, Zimbabwe became the ninth Test nation in 1992, thus opening up further opportunities for the Associates to partake at the World Cup. Moreover, the next two editions of the World Cup saw 12 teams in action, which meant that three spots were up for grabs for the Associates in […]

Specials – Best of Indo-Pak duels in the desert

The Asia Cup group game between India and Pakistan in Dubai on September 19 was the first instance of the arch-rivals playing each other in the United Arab Emirates in over 12 years. The previous instance of the two teams meeting in the UAE was in 2006, when they played a two-ODI series in […]

In Focus – Eight players to watch out for at the Desert T20 Challenge

The inaugural eight-nation Desert T20 Challenge, a welcome development for the Associate nations, is underway in the United Arab Emirates. The week-long tournament features eight teams clubbed into two groups: Group A includes Afghanistan, Ireland, Namibia and hosts UAE while Group B will see Hong Kong, Oman, Scotland and the Netherlands battle it out. […]

Record Book – The first World Cup match between two Associate nations

Associate nations have invariably brought their own distinctive flair to World Cup tournaments. From the plucky Sri Lankan batsmen facing up to Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson in 1975, to Ireland’s never-say-die spirit that almost earned them a quarterfinal berth in 2015, the non-Test teams have provided some of the most absorbing moments in […]

VIEWPOINT – Time to get our World Cup back

With the utterly callous decision of reducing the number of teams to just ten in the 2019 World Cup finalised, it is now or never for the Associate nations to show what they are capable of. It is time for them to give a performance so strong that it mortifies the ICC and sparks […]