5 popular footballing nations you did not know played cricket and have T20I status

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision of shortening the ICC Cricket World Cup to a 10-team affair has received severe criticism. People complained about how, when all the other sports are expanding, the ICC is trying to cripple the beautiful game.

However, they took a historic step last month by giving T20I status to all of its 104 members. While this step is ought to be beneficiary in the globalization of the gentleman's game, some names among the big list will catch us by surprise. Let us have a look at 5 countries who are famous footballing nations but you probably did not know played cricket.

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#5 Spain

Spain became an affiliate member of ICC in 1992

Spain is best known for their FIFA World Cup 2014 triumph. At a time when the main architect behind that win, Andres Iniesta, has announced that the ongoing season is going to be his last at FC Barcelona, let us gather some information about their cricket team.

Spain became an affiliate member of the ICC in 1992 and made their international debut in European Cricket Championship Trophy in 2001, where they came 6th. The team is administed by Cricket España.

#4 Germany

Germany became an associate member of ICC in 1999

Skip this slide Brazil fans, because as it turns out, the side that demolished your team in the FIFA World Cup 2014 plays cricket too. The country of Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Lothar Matthäus became an associate member of the ICC way back in 1999.

Germany are a regular competitor in European Cricket Championship tournaments and have competed in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in 2001. Presently, the team that is administered by Deutscher Cricket Bund is coached by former Scottish cricketer Steven Knox and led by India-born Rishi Pillai.

#3 Portugal

Miranda Crows Cricket Club is a cricket team from Portugal

On the world map, the country of Portugal can be spotted by Cristiano Ronaldo's. The land of Luis Figo is not an associate member of the ICC, but it became an affiliate member in 1996. They played their first tournament way back in 1997, which was the European Nations Cup.

After finishing first from their group that included teams like Austria and Greece, Portugal lost to France at the semis. The team governed by Federação Portuguesa de Cricket has Sandy Buccimazza as their coach and Akbar Saiyad as their skipper.

#2 Argentina

Argentina made its ICC tournament debut at the 1979 ICC Trophy

After Cristiano Ronaldo's country, we now move on to his fiercest rival, Lionel Messi's country - Argentina. The country known for Deigo Maradona and Messi has a lot of fans in the cricket-crazy country of India, but we probably do not know they play cricket as well.

They got their associate member status in 1974 and made their ICC tournament debut at the 1979 ICC Trophy that was held in England. The team that is governed by the Argentine Cricket Association, has Daniel Sutton as their coach. Esteban Alfredo "Billy" MacDermott is regarded as an Argentine cricketing legend.

#1 Brazil

Brazil made its international debut against rivals Argentina

How can one have a list which features Argentina but not Brazil? Like football, the two neighbors have cricket as a common background as well. Pele and Ronaldinho's country plays cricket but unlike Argentina, they are not an associate member of ICC. Brazil became an affiliate member of ICC in 2002.

They made their ICC tournament debut at the 2006 ICC Americas Championship Division Three, where they lost all three of their matches. However, their improvement is rapid and staggering and they surprised everyone when they won the 2009 ICC Americas Championship Division Three. They are currently led by Rubabul Islam.