The fundamental question that has been hanging over everyone since the Cricket World Cup Qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup began is whether 10 teams are enough for a World Cup. India will host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 later this year. Ten teams will compete in the major event, eight of which have already qualified. In Zimbabwe, where the qualifiers are taking place, there are indications that support the case for increasing the number of teams competing in the World Cup.
Are 10 teams enough for the World Cup?
The Cricket World Cup will be staged in a nation like India, which has the largest cricket fan base. Even if there are more “less famous” teams and there are more teams overall, it is very likely that large crowds will still watch their matches. Teams like West Indies have had trouble thus far in the World Cup qualifiers and it is very possible that they will not succeed in qualifying for the World Cup.
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There is no way that a tournament with the word “World” in its name could be contested between only 10 teams. The ICC’s desire to prevent a decline in cricket’s standard is one justification for the small number of teams. However, the ICC will have a hard time getting cricket into events like the Olympics with so few teams.
Format
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In 2011 and 2015, the Cricket World Cup featured 14 teams, whereas the 2007 World Cup featured 16 countries. These World Cups used a structure that featured group stages, then quarterfinals or Super 8.
The 14 teams were split into two groups of seven teams in 2011 and 2015. For both groups, the top four teams qualified for the quarterfinals. As a result, if a team made it to the finals, they would have played a total of nine games. With more games played by top teams thanks to the 10-team format, the ICC can make more money. In a round-robin style with 10 teams, the league stage allows for 9 games, while the teams who advance to the finals play 11 games.
2027 World Cup
There will be 14 teams competing in the 2027 World Cup, split into two groups of seven teams each. As the hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe have already qualified. Based on rankings, eight teams will enter the World Cup, with the remaining four teams coming from the qualifying rounds. The 2027 World Cup’s 14-team format will enable more teams to compete while maintaining the same number of matches. The top three teams will advance to the Super Six, ensuring that the finalist teams would play more matches than, for instance, India and Sri Lanka did at the 2011 World Cup.
Also Read: World Cup 2023: How Does The Schedule Benefit India?
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