That means the likes of Ireland, who are currently ranked 10th ahead of Zimbabwe, have no chance to build on the positive aspects of their 2011 campaign - which saw Simmons’ men capture the public imagination with their defeat of England as well as pushing the West Indies and Bangladesh close.

As a former West Indies Test player, Simmons can see the situation from both sides and he is convinced the move, which puts sides like his own into World Cup exile for a minimum of eight years, is wrong.

Simmons said: “It is a dark day for cricket but a great day for greed and fear. It is hard to find words to describe this despicable decision made by some who want to keep things among themselves and some who fear us.

“There can be no cricketing reasons for this decision, as we answered the cricket question, the television rating question and we are the 10th-ranked nation in the world. What else is needed?

“I’m afraid the next World Cup will be like the American World Series – you are crowned World Champions but the world did not take part – congratulations to India on winning the last real World Cup.

“Finally – congratulations to ICC for pulling the game we love back 10 years.”

A Cricket Ireland statement confirmed they are actively pursuing ways in which the decision can be challenged.

It read: “The decision was ratified, not surprisingly, by the full members themselves, who have shown themselves to be unfit for purpose or governance.

“Ireland are currently in discussions with their fellow associates and affiliates about the avenues of action left open to them following the shameful ruling by ICC.”

Deutrom had earlier told Press Association Sport: “We won’t be taking this lying down, we will continue to fight this and we don’t believe this is a dead issue yet.

“The chairman of the associates has sent a memo out to all 95 non-Test playing countries to notify them of the decision and to say the six elected representatives who sit on the two main ICC committees will be liaising over the coming days to talk about the course of action we need to take.”

Asked if it would be feasible for the associates and affiliates to take the decision to the courts, Deutrom said: “I would think that (legal action) would be a long way down the track. But we do have to determine if the ICC has acted in concert with its memorandum and articles. I don’t believe the ICC or its directors would act in an illegal fashion but we have to determine whether or not what has transpired is in the best interests of the sport.

“There is fidelity to one’s memo and articles and that’s one thing, but there is also fidelity to the principles of sport.

“I have worked in the ICC for the best part of eight or nine years, first as part of the management and now sitting on one of the two senior committees, and I can say that today I am ashamed to be part of that apparatus.”