Nepalese sensation Sandeep Lamichhane has called for the World Cup to be expanded to up to 16 teams, saying limiting it to 10 hurts players from emerging cricket nations.
The 18-year-old leg-spinner, who last year became the firstNepalese player to land an Indian Premier League contract, said he wasfrustrated to be missing out on the tournament in England and Wales starting inMay.
“Sorry to say but a 10-team World Cup will hurt a lot ofplayers like me who will not be a part of it,” the Delhi Capitals player toldAFP in an interview.
“I think there should be 14-16 teams in the World Cup.”
Lamichhane added: “World Cup comes after every four yearsand teams can achieve their biggest dreams there. We are an emerging nation andthis is something we would love to play for our country.
“Even in 2023 there are (again) only 10 teams so it will bea while before we can even think of playing in the 50-over event.”
Lamichhane, who has a blond streak in his dark hair andearrings in both ears, has drawn comparisons with his hero, the flamboyantAustralian great Shane Warne, for his bowling style and ability to generatewicked turn.
The confident teenager is the poster boy for the rise ofcricket in mountainous Nepal, which gained one-day international status lastyear but remains a long way from contesting a World Cup.
Cricket’s showpiece tournament had 16 teams in 2007, but thefield was reduced to 14 in 2011 and 2015 as the International Cricket Councilsought to avoid one-sided matches.
It has been slashed to just 10 teams for 2019 and 2023,featuring the top eight sides in the one-day rankings and another two comingthrough qualifying.
Lamichhane, who will be watching the World Cup from afar,said he was hoping for some upsets by the smaller teams, who includeAfghanistan.
“I am going to watchthe World Cup on TV and love to see any team that is under-rated perform wellagainst the big nations,” said Lamichhane.
“It will be an inspiration for us who are just beginningtheir journey right now.”
Test cricket is also on Lamichhane’s radar as Nepal bid tofollow in the footsteps of Afghanistan and Ireland, who in 2017 were elevatedto the elite club of nations eligible to play the five-day game.
“Two years back we were nothing,” said Lamichhane. “But now we are an ODI and T20 international nation.