‘We have sold the rights based on 10 teams’

The ICC chief executive David Richardson has conceded that cricket's governing body took the controversial decision to reduce the number of teams for the next two global tournaments because of a mega broadcasting deal.

The has been an uproar from former players and associate cricket countries that the showpiece events in 2019 and 2023 will be reduced from 14 to 10 teams.

Associate teams like Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan and the UAE, who all took part in the tournnament this year, will be affected by the new announcement.

Although the the decision can be discussed at the ICC's next general meeting in October, Richardson said the rights have already been sold so they will not back be turning back on their decision.

Richardson said: "We have gone to market based on a 10-team World Cup. The increase in the revenue is significant and everyone gets the benefit of that. It looks very difficult to change that for 2019.

"There will be an opportunity to discuss it at the next round of meetings but I don't want to get anyone's hopes unduly raised. The bottom line is we have sold the rights based on 10 teams."