<p>Ireland skipper William Porterfield said that the four non-Test playing nations at the World Cup have performed well in cricket's global showpiece and it wouldn't be the same tournament with less teams. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The International Cricket Council is chopping the 14-team format to one with 10 for the next World Cup, with the highest eight ranked teams qualifying automatically.<br /><br />Teams will vie for the other two spots at qualifying tournaments, making it harder for the likes of Ireland and Afghanistan to enter.<br /><br />Out of the four "associates", Ireland are the only team to win a match at the World Cup so far, though Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Scotland have been far from disgraced in their defeats.<br /><br />"I think it's frustrating whenever you come to tournaments and the governing body wants to keep cutting teams," Porterfield told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday, a day before Ireland's match against UAE at the Gabba.<br /><br />"I think it's the only sport in the world that does that when it comes to world events.<br />"Hopefully we (associates) can keep improving performances.<br /><br />"Obviously, Afghanistan could have come out against Sri Lanka and Scotland have done reasonably well as well.<br /><br />"The way the UAE played against Zimbabwe, posting a strong 285, things could have gone quite differently.<br /><br />"So the way the four teams who have qualified have performed so far in this competition has been great. We've got to keep that going. Not only ourselves, but everyone else."<br />Great chance<br /><br />According to United Arab Emirates batsman Khurram Khan, his side’s match against Ireland offers them a ‘wonderful opportunity’ of a World Cup win. <br /><br />"I think it's going to be a very important game, obviously,” said Khurram. "They'll be targeting us. We've played lots of games against them," added Khurram, who made 45 against Zimbabwe.<br /><br />"It's a wonderful opportunity because it's a very important game for us as well. So we're definitely targeting this game."<br /><br />Asked where the team needed to improve most on their performance against Zimbabwe, Khurram was clear.<br /><br />"Definitely I would say in the fielding. We missed three run-out chances."Meanwhile Khurram insisted that the UAE will enjoy their time in this World Cup and be as professional as they can.<br /><br />"Obviously we have jobs back home. But once you're here you completely forget about the jobs.”<br /><br /></p>
<p>Ireland skipper William Porterfield said that the four non-Test playing nations at the World Cup have performed well in cricket's global showpiece and it wouldn't be the same tournament with less teams. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The International Cricket Council is chopping the 14-team format to one with 10 for the next World Cup, with the highest eight ranked teams qualifying automatically.<br /><br />Teams will vie for the other two spots at qualifying tournaments, making it harder for the likes of Ireland and Afghanistan to enter.<br /><br />Out of the four "associates", Ireland are the only team to win a match at the World Cup so far, though Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Scotland have been far from disgraced in their defeats.<br /><br />"I think it's frustrating whenever you come to tournaments and the governing body wants to keep cutting teams," Porterfield told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday, a day before Ireland's match against UAE at the Gabba.<br /><br />"I think it's the only sport in the world that does that when it comes to world events.<br />"Hopefully we (associates) can keep improving performances.<br /><br />"Obviously, Afghanistan could have come out against Sri Lanka and Scotland have done reasonably well as well.<br /><br />"The way the UAE played against Zimbabwe, posting a strong 285, things could have gone quite differently.<br /><br />"So the way the four teams who have qualified have performed so far in this competition has been great. We've got to keep that going. Not only ourselves, but everyone else."<br />Great chance<br /><br />According to United Arab Emirates batsman Khurram Khan, his side’s match against Ireland offers them a ‘wonderful opportunity’ of a World Cup win. <br /><br />"I think it's going to be a very important game, obviously,” said Khurram. "They'll be targeting us. We've played lots of games against them," added Khurram, who made 45 against Zimbabwe.<br /><br />"It's a wonderful opportunity because it's a very important game for us as well. So we're definitely targeting this game."<br /><br />Asked where the team needed to improve most on their performance against Zimbabwe, Khurram was clear.<br /><br />"Definitely I would say in the fielding. We missed three run-out chances."Meanwhile Khurram insisted that the UAE will enjoy their time in this World Cup and be as professional as they can.<br /><br />"Obviously we have jobs back home. But once you're here you completely forget about the jobs.”<br /><br /></p>