'Associates have performed well'

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.

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.

Teams will vie for the other two spots at qualifying tournaments, making it harder for the likes of Ireland and Afghanistan to enter.

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.

"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.

"I think it's the only sport in the world that does that when it comes to world events.
"Hopefully we (associates) can keep improving performances.

"Obviously, Afghanistan could have come out against Sri Lanka and Scotland have done reasonably well as well.

"The way the UAE played against Zimbabwe, posting a strong 285, things could have gone quite differently.

"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."
Great chance

According to United Arab Emirates batsman Khurram Khan, his side’s match against Ireland offers them a ‘wonderful opportunity’ of a World Cup win. 

"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.

"It's a wonderful opportunity because it's a very important game for us as well. So we're definitely targeting this game."

Asked where the team needed to improve most on their performance against Zimbabwe, Khurram was clear.

"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.

"Obviously we have jobs back home. But once you're here you completely forget about the jobs.”