Cricket World Cup 2015: Why "minnows" should not be underestimated

Minnow: A small or insignificant person or organisation. (Oxford dictionary)

For few years now, it has been the most debated word which took the shape of a topic for discussion among the cricketing circles. Should the minnows be part of a World Cup? Do they add anything significant to the gala tournament or are they just enrolled to make up the numbers so that the tournament goes on a little longer?

Members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after watching the few matches involving the minnows might have got the answers to these few questions. With the ICC mulling to reduce the number of competing teams from 14 to 10 in the 2019 World Cup in England, they should seriously consider getting into a huddle and rethink the idea.

This World Cup till now has been a great success for the minnows. Being an Asian and Indian by birth, I was jumping with joy when Afghanistan created history beating the much professional and much fancied Scotland in Dunedin by 1 wicket after an epic innings by Samiullah Shenwari.

It was a moment of reckoning for me to watch Shapoor Zadran, the left-arm fast bowler with a Shoaib Akhtar-like action, running in with steam and foxing the Scots with his pace and swing. It also gave me great pleasure to watch a nation ravaged by the Taliban, play in the World Cup for the first time and almost pulling off a stunning win against the mighty Lankans. At a time when their other two Asian neighbours - Pakistan and Bangladesh are struggling to win a match, the performance by Afghanistan keeps the excitement alive apart from adding colour to the tournament.

Speaking of Asian neighbours, UAE too is a great story. A bunch of amateur cricketers who work in offices and take out time after work and travel to Dubai to play the game, just out of love and sheer passion. Participating in their second World Cup, they gave the Irish team a run for their money in that nail-biting encounter in Brisbane. It was heartening to witness Shaiman Anwar scoring a gritty hundred against a well-balanced attack to become the first UAE batsmen to do so in a World Cup.

The performance will definitely give them a boost before they take on the mighty Indians on Saturday.

I hope MS Dhoni and co will not commit the mistake of taking them lightly and also avoid taking dramatic decisions in the team meeting. The Men in Blue should look hungry for a win like they looked against Pakistan and South Africa and go for the kill against the UAE.

Yes, there are the Gayles, the Shikhar Dhawans, the Millers, the Dilshans, Kevin 'O' Briens and the Maxwells but ICC should not turn a blind eye on the performances by the Shapoors, the Shenwaris, the Dawlats and the Shaimans. They should be rewarded, encouraged and given the respect they deserve.

Whatever might be the end result of the tournament, I, however, seriously hope that by the end of this tournament, they could prove to the ICC that they played in the tournament not just to add to the numbers but to prove that minnows can be heroes!