Smaller Champions Trophy likely

The International Cricket Council is considering reducing the number of teams for the next edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.

"The hosts and the top five teams will qualify directly, while the next four teams will battle it out for the last two places," ICC president Ehsan Mani said at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Sunday.

"The 2004 Champions Trophy, held in England, had nine teams playing, which diluted the quality of the game; so we are considering changes."

Mani said the 2006 Champions Trophy cannot not be held in India unless the Indian government grants tax exemption.

"All countries grant tax exemption for ICC events. Not only cricket, but all the other major sporting events in the world, like Formula Racing or the Olympic Games, receive tax exemption, wherever they are held."

He also said there is no need to have two neutral umpires for One-Day Internationals as demanded by Pakistan after their recent triangular series in Australia.

"One umpire is a neutral in ODIs, while the other is from the host nation, which is necessary to give more exposure to home umpires."

The ICC president also said the ICC is also looking into improving the standard of umpiring.

"We are trying to improve from 90 per cent to 97 per cent of the correct decisions. Each and every decision of the umpires is analysed thoroughly."

Mani came out strongly in support of West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor, who was severely criticized after wrongly adjudicating Sachin Tendulkar out in the second Test against Pakistan at Kolkata.

Tendulkar was ruled caught behind off Abdul Razzaq, but television replays showed that the ball missed the bat.

"Bucknor is one of the top five umpires in the world. But he too can make mistakes," he said of the Jamaican, who is the first umpire to officiate in 100 Tests.

"There was one Sri Lankan umpire who was a very good umpire but had problems in judging the leg stump line while giving leg before wicket decisions. That's why he was taken out of the Elite Panel. He is now officiating in domestic cricket, and he can still come back to the Elite Panel if he improves," added Mani.