Cricket World Cup: Irish bow out with slap to ICC over 2019 plans

Irish batsman William Porterfield went so far as to question the sport's future in Ireland if the path to the World Cup was made harder. Photo / Christine Cornege

Ireland captain William Porterfield has turned the heat up on the International Cricket Council, demanding answers as to why they want to cut the World Cup to 10 teams.

The Irish are viewed by pundits as the perfect example as to why the ICC should work harder to grow the game, given how much potential they've showed at the 2007, 2011 and 2015 World Cups.

However, the ICC is set to trim the 2019 event to 10 teams. Porterfield has voiced the side's concerns over the past month, but rarely been as forthright as he was after their spirited campaign ended with a seven-wicket loss to Pakistan on Sunday.

"I'd love to think it's not our last World Cup game," he said. "Everyone wants to know what their vision for the game is. It'll be interesting to see what their vision is and what their thoughts are behind the 10-team competition and what value there is for other teams playing outside of the top 10.

"I'm sure they're hoping everything blows over the next few weeks and they don't hear much from us.

"Then it's just as easy to brush it under the carpet. But I think something has to be done if they want to grow the game."

Porterfield, who scored a classy century in Adelaide, went so far as to question the sport's future in Ireland if the path to the World Cup was made harder.

"What's the point really in us keeping going? I think it's the wrong move," he said. "A lot of people have spoken out that it is the wrong move ... a lot of influential people have said that, so I don't think the ICC can just ignore that."

ICC boss David Richardson has hinted there may be a rethink, saying he's "learned never to say never".

But Porterfield suggested Richardson and his colleagues were yet to discuss the issue with anyone from Ireland.

"Not really. I think they've been pretty quiet on the actual subject," he said.

Ireland finished level on points with West Indies, but failed to progress to the knockout phase due to an inferior net run-rate.

"It's not something we're very bitter about," Porterfield said. "It's just disappointing when you lose out on net run-rate for the sheer fact that you've finished level on points with someone else."

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- AAP