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What do you expect from a World Cup? Nail-biting matches? Compelling stories? Exciting matchups? If this is what you were hoping for heading into the 2019 ICC World Cup, then there’s every chance that you would have found yourself disappointed. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the 12th edition of cricket’s greatest competition has been nothing but a damp squib.

A 10-team joke

When the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the 2019 edition will be played as per the 1992 format, many were drawn into a nostalgic ride. Of course, the ’92 World Cup holds a special place in many hearts for varied reasons. The coloured clothing, white balls, Imran Khan lifting the crystal ball-like trophy after an epic journey to the final, the reasons are penalty. But just like most of our memories from the yester years, some of which keep popping up on Facebook, this too has been bad. And three weeks into the competition, the argument has gathered more steam.

Read | India vs Pakistan: A faux in the box

As expected, Australia, England, New Zealand and England have qualified for the semifinals, while others like the West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa have been made to fight for the crumbs. Meanwhile, Afghanistan might still be wondering what they are doing on this stage. While, there have been a few matches that has gone down to the final few overs, none other than the one between India and Afghanistan created the tension that one usually associates with a World Cup match.

A World Cup, really?

10 privileged teams vying for the title of the World Champions. That’s probably the apt way to describe the ongoing event in England and Wales. It’s hard to believe that eight of the 10 teams didn’t even face a single qualifying match before the actual competition began on May 30. This should make cricket the only sport in which the privileged group enjoys such honour. 

Belgium hockey (AFP Photo/ Dibyangshu Sarkar)

Football, a sport that garners much more attention than cricket, has its reigning champions fighting it with others through the various rounds of qualification before they can even think of defending the title in four years’ time. Hockey, a sport that might not be as popular as football and is played by a handful of nations, also wants the World champions to go through a qualification process — the FIH World Series — before granting them a chance to defend their crown. Even rugby, the World Cup of which is scheduled to be held in Japan later this year, has eight of 20 spots up for grabs for teams that don’t make the previous edition.

By restricting the entry of newer teams into the fold, the ICC has not only hampered the growth of the sport in unknow territories but has also failed to give little-known teams an opportunity to stake a claim at the biggest stage.

Manjrekar!!! Should we say more

One of the aspects that makes watching a sport on television is the commentary that accompanies. Over the years cricket too has seen soon top-quality professional calling the games for the television viewers. But the 2019 edition has been a disappointment on that front too.

A certain Sanjay Manjrekar has been on the receiving end of some stern criticism for the way he analysis the match. It’s hard to believe that the ICC is still persisting to stay with this cricketer-turned commentator despite the flak it has received on social media.

For more on this, read here

Where’s the World Cup?

And if the above-mentioned reasons were not enough, England — the host nation — failing to generate the much-needed hype and buzz around the ICC World Cup should be a stern indicator that this competition has all but lost its sheen.

While the teams have tried their best to keep the matches entertaining and exciting, nothing seems to have wooed the English crowd as the FIFA Women’s World Cup seems to be the talk of the town in England. Moreover, with tennis action returning to SW 19 with Wimbledon, it’s hard to see any locals choosing a World Cup match that can take up more than half your day over an enthralling game of tennis, which last for an hour to four.

Probably, the ICC can make a note of a few things and try to tinker around with the World Cup rather than just pleasing the Big Three.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Dibyangshu Sarkar

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World Cup 2019