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By Peter Della Penna

The ICC’s decision to eliminate Associate countries from the 2015 World Cup has predictably been met with outrage in the Associate world. USACA Secretary John Aaron was reached shortly after the decision was announced. Aaron was unhappy with the ICC’s decision and says it will prevent the game from being able to grow around the world.

“My reaction to it? Disappointment in a word, disappointed,” said Aaron. “I think one of the natural stepping stones for Associate countries to become Full Members is created by that pathway for World Cups. That’s what Associate countries aspire to and it provides them a platform upon which to gain ascendency to Full Member status. I think it’s a natural progression. Now if you stop it right in the middle there, then you’re not giving the Associate countries something tangible with which to aim for and I think that’s unfortunate because if we want to grow the sport, we’ve got to grow the sport and elevate it at all levels.”

“One of the ways of certainly increasing the exposure of the sport to more people with the potential for greater good is to provide that platform for ascendency and I think by taking that away, they’re in a sense denying… the full potential for the sport to really grow leaps and bounds in a shorter time, in a faster time.”

The USA senior team had been aiming to progress up the World Cricket League ladder in an attempt to reach an event that was labeled as the 2013 Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Scotland. Monday’s decision eliminated the possibility for any Associates to be given a chance to qualify for the World Cup through that or any other event. Aaron hopes that this will not discourage players in the USA, as well as other countries, but admits that it is a possibility that their motivation could taper off.

Image (right) - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup logo. [Courtesy: ICC]

“I would hope that our vision is still to progress at all costs,” said Aaron. “Yes, that was part of our three-pronged approach which was being number 15 in 2015. Albeit we got set back by getting relegated back to Division Four, but that has nothing to do with it. If it was another country, I would feel the same way that we should have been given the opportunity. But now maybe more Associate countries might feel less inclined to want to work as hard if that goal, that brass ring, is no longer there.”

“It’s almost as if we’re hitting the proverbial glass ceiling. You can get as far as the top Associate, but you wouldn’t get a chance at that brass ring in the World Cup. In so far as the US is concerned, we will still continue to work feverishly to create a better product, a better team at all levels including the women and I don’t think that that should hamper us. But it’s one of those things that you set your eyes, you set as a target on and if that is taken away, it certainly diminishes in some way the effort that a lot of the Associate countries are putting into the sport right now.”

Aaron isn’t sure about whether the expansion of the 2012 World Twenty20 to 16 teams can be considered appropriate compensation for the Associates to make up for removing them from the World Cup and he hopes that the ICC will not only reconsider today’s decision, but overturn it.

“I can’t give an honest opinion because I wasn’t in the room and I don’t know what were all the considerations that were debated so I’m not in a position to comment on it fully, but I think whatever opportunities the Associate countries are provided, it’s another opportunity that is well taken and I think the Associate countries will take full advantage of it whatever is provided their way,” said Aaron. “I’m hoping that somewhere down the road, the ICC will reverse its decision and see that the greater good is to involve more Associate countries.”