Ireland and Afghanistan show need for rethink before 2019 World Cup

When the associate nations show the sufficient talent and confidence to seek victory rather than respectability it is time to reconsider the planned reduction to a 10-team tournament

• Dhoni gives associate nations short shrift after India’s previous plight

In the World Cup of 2011, England kept the tournament alive in the early stages by losing to Ireland and Bangladesh and beating West Indies and South Africa, thereby scraping into the quarter-finals before producing an anaemic performance against Sri Lanka.

This time, until the little epic at Eden Park on Saturday, the associates were the ones keeping us interested. Ireland, who thrashed West Indies and scraped past the United Arab Emirates, have yet to be beaten. Afghanistan frightened Sri Lanka and then participated in a thrilling game when they defeated Scotland by one wicket in Dunedin.

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source Sport | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1wxpU1V