<p><br /> Leading Irish cricketer Ed Joyce fears the International Cricket Council's plan to reduce the next World Cup to ten teams will hit Ireland's hopes of joining the Test-playing nations.<br /> </p><p><br /> Last week, the ICC confirmed a plan to pare down the 50-over World Cup from 14 to ten teams from 2015.<br /> </p><p><br /> Ireland have already applied for Test status and Joyce fears the new World Cup plan could jeopardise their chances.<br /> </p><p><br /> Speaking in Dhaka before Ireland's opening match against co-hosts Bangladesh on Friday, Joyce said: "Obviously we have made great strides since the 2007 World Cup where the boys performed so well in the West Indies.<br /> </p><p><br /> "We beat Pakistan and Bangladesh and tied with Zimbabwe and got through to the Super Eights. We then performed well in the last Twenty20 World Cup.<br /> </p><p><br /> "So we believe as a cricketing nation we are on the way up and obviously it would be a blow not to be able to be involved in future World Cups."<br /> </p>
