Ponting_14
International Cricketer
AUSTRALIAN captain Ricky Ponting has questioned the value of minnow nations at the World Cup and wonders if they provide any benefits for cricket's showpiece event.
The marquee tournament, which officially begins in the Caribbean at the weekend, consists of 16 teams after the International Cricket Council increased the qualifying berths from one to five.
This has meant the 10 Test-playing countries plus Kenya and qualifiers Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland will take part.
Ponting has been an outspoken critic before of promoting these nations into the ICC's two major tournaments -- the Champions Trophy and the World Cup -- and again voiced his concerns on the verge of his fourth World Cup.
Link:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21331369-2882,00.html