Lionel Cann believes the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to reduce the next World Cup to 14-teams is a "backward step".

But the swashbuckling batsman still reckons the Island can qualify for the next World Cup despite the road to the 2011 showpiece being that much more difficult for Associate nations. The ICC 'rubber stamped' the new format yesterday, which replaces the previous 16-team structure.

"This is a downer for us. It is for all the Associate countries and it's a big step backwards", Cann told The Royal Gazette. "It will be tougher for us the second time around, but we must put our heads down and work harder to achieve success."

With Kenya guaranteed an automatic spot at the next World Cup along with Zimbabwe and the nine Test playing nations, Bermuda will be competing for one of three remaining places.

"We will have to start training immediately and play some higher class opposition which is hopefully in the works," added Cann. "We need to be going and playing in some One Day Internationals (ODI).

"It will be twice as hard and we can't just rely on national team training. Club training will have to play a part as well and training on your own.

"Our Under-19s who are coming into the fold will also have to use their experience from their campaign if, or when, they come in to replace the older guys in the team who will be retiring."

The original process had only three Associate countries involved but the rules were changed before the last World Cup allowing four countries to advance, with Bermuda the chief beneficiaries

The ICC decided upon a 14-team format instead of 16-teams for the next World Cup after the 2007 edition in West Indies was heavily criticised for being too long.

"The event will be held over a significantly shorter period than the previous one," said an ICC statement. "The detailed format, venues and schedule will be finalised in due course."

At the ICC executives meeting in Kuala Lumpur last month, some full member countries singled out the performance of Bermuda at the 2007 World Cup as an example of why they should not support the inclusion of six Associates.

The new World Cup format enables the ten full members to qualify automatically for the event with the remaining four places going to the semi-finalists of the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifier, which will take place in Dubai next year.

The next World Cup will be jointly staged by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.