ICC to can Champions Trophy?

Chennai - The ICC is likely to abolish the Champions Trophy to help promote the World Cup's status as the pinnacle of one-day cricket.

The World Cup was derided as bloated and overly long in the Caribbean four years ago and the International Cricket Council trimmed it from 16 to 14 teams for this year. With fans and commentators fatigued at the amount of 50-over cricket scheduled, the ICC is set to reduce that further to 10 nations in 2015.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat says "what we're trying to work towards is a pinnacle event in each format ... so if we're looking to our next cycle we might think definitely about (losing) the Champions Trophy."

The eight-team Champions Trophy has been played roughly every two years since 1998.