Ireland could play 15 ODIs a year against Full Members

[b555]

reland, who have been controversially excluded from the next World Cup, could still play up to 15 one-day internationals against Full Members each year between now and 2015. Cricket Ireland chairman David Williams, who visited India last week and met with BCCI chairman Shashank Manohar, confirmed that he had received support from several of the ICC's Full Members willing to accommodate Ireland. "One of our ambitions is to increase our ODI exposure against full members to between 10 to 15 per annum, and we received some support from Full Members to accommodate us," Williams said. "There is, without question, among all the Full Members chairmen I spoke to, considered to be very clear water between us and the rest of the Associates." Both South Africa and Bangladesh reportedly lent support to Ireland's push for more games against Full Members, but chances of a bilateral series against world champions India remain slim, and Zimbabwe have withdrawn an invitation for a repeat of Ireland's trip to the country in September last year. Zimbabwe cited the lack of a gap in their programme due to playing commitments as the reason for the cancellation, although the ICC's Future Tours Programme does show that they have no cricket scheduled between the end of October and the beginning of December. "We had hoped to play a four-day game - an unofficial Test match - against Zimbabwe and three ODIs. That would have been a very nice tour. But that tour will not take place," Williams confirmed. Williams, who was re-elected as chairman for a fourth year at Cricket Ireland's annual meeting, had travelled to India with the intention of securing a qualifying tournament for the next World Cup, ensuring a promotion and relegation system in ODI leagues and canvassing for support for more ODIs for Ireland. "I didn't get the first, but the second was delivered and I am hopeful that the last will happen," he said. more: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ireland/content/story/510612.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

[achilles]

Ireland needs to be playing the World Cup. This offer is like cutting someone's heart up and then offering a band-aid to cover the wound.

[Stuge]

upto 15 ODI's ?? is that some kind of sale or something ? ICC is seriously have strange ways of doing things .

[akshayxyz]

ICC hai hai...ICC murdabad,.. tana-shahi nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi.. seriously they deserve to play 2015WC ahead of Bangbros and zimboks

[ganeshran]

Good move by ICC.. atleast they get some match experience. Ireland look the best team to becoming a full member

[Params7]

upto 15 ODI's ?? is that some kind of sale or something ? ICC is seriously have strange ways of doing things .

Its ridicolous Ireland will only get ODI's if they come begging to ICC. And still no hope for a WC 2015 entry. This is how ICC develops cricket in new regions.

[rajmarie]

IMO...ICC will make sure the Ireland dont get to play so many ODI's. Imagine...if Ireland get to play atleast 15 ODI per year...then when 2015 comes around...Ireland will surely be higher in then WI, BD & Zim in ICC ODI rating.

[Cricket Tragic]

Doesn't make up for the WC snub but I hope that they get to play these ODIs every year.

[Params7]

Doesn't make up for the WC snub but I hope that they get to play these ODIs every year.

Yeah definitely does not make up for the WC snub. It'll be hard for me to tolerate Zimbabwe at the WC if there is no qualifier, Zimbabwe would be playing over death of ODI cricket in Ireland. They should play ODI's asap, and win as much as they can.