ICC World Twenty20: Kyle McCallan questions World T20 format
Ireland knocked out after wash-out with Bangladesh
Friday 11 March 2016 20:50, UK
Kyle McCallan has urged the ICC to consider tinkering with the format of the World T20 after Ireland and Netherlands' hopes of progression were ended by rain.
Ireland's match with Bangladesh was abandoned after just eight overs in Dharamsala, while Netherlands were unable to take to the field against Oman because of the weather.
Former Ireland star McCallan admits his countrymen, who lost their opener to Oman by two wickets on Wednesday, underperformed in India.
"There was a two-week qualification tournament where lots of teams put in a lot of time, money, effort and sacrifice and it seems farcical to me that your fate can be decided with one wash-out."
But he feels Associate sides' hard-work in qualification is going somewhat unrewarded with no rain days allocated, describing the situation as almost 'farcical'.
"There was a two-week qualification tournament where lots of teams put in a lot of time, money, effort and sacrifice and it seems farcical to me that your fate can be decided with one wash-out," McCallan told Sky Sports.
"I find it hard to accept that we can't have a rain day, even though you want the tournament to be short, sharp and sweet, as there is so much riding on this in terms of revenue and growing the game."
McCallan also wants Ireland to be granted more fixtures against high-quality opposition, which they will get later this year when they play limited-overs games against Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
"You can set out as many cones in training as you want, bowl as many Yorkers as you like and play games where no one is watching," added the ex-spinner.
"But it's only when TV cameras appear, you have the pressure to qualify and there are consequences of failure that you learn and get the opportunity to improve."
Ed Joyce, meanwhile, would like to see Ireland's players gain more experience in domestic T20 tournaments, something England's Adil Rashid enjoyed this winter while playing for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash.
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"I love four-day and Test cricket - it's what I grew up watching - but maybe we have to concentrate on Twenty20, and getting guys over to England, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia," added the Irishman.
"Even if they don't play in the games [they can learn from the environment]."
See if Ireland can end their World T20 campaign on a high by beating Netherlands on Sunday. That game is live on Sky Sports 2 from 9am.
