Fixtures: Ireland v Bangladesh ODIs in June

Cricket Ireland has announced that Bangladesh will be playing two ODIs against Ireland at Stormont in June. The matches will take place on Thursday June 15th and Friday June 16th. Bangladesh have also lined up matches against England, Scotland and Netherlands during their European trip.

Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom says that the matches mark the way forward for Ireland: "For the last three years or so, we have targetted matches against the lower-ranked full members as the most important means of measuring our progress and determining our readiness to step up to the elite level. All our players will be aware of the perception that strong results against test-playing countries creates, and will be keen to maximise home advantage to good effect in the year that we are applying to move higher in the international firmament."

Irish coach Phil Simmons added "It’s great that we have a chance to play them on home soil. We lost to them badly in 2008 in Bangladesh but on our home turf I’d be confident of doing well. We have beaten them in both the 2007 World Cup, and in the ICC World Twenty20 last year, so I don’t think there’s much to choose between the two teams. It’s a great opportunity for us to gain valuable ranking points."

2010 ICC World Twenty20 Group Draw

Not so much a draw, as they groups are ordered according to their ranking. Due to their loss against Afghanistan yesterday, Ireland are placed in Group D alongside England the West Indies. Afghanistan were put in Group C with South Africa and India, and thus may have a better chance of coming second and making the Super Eights. But as you all know, in Twenty20 anything can happen - even a win over England.

(Rankings in brackets.)

GROUP A
Pakistan (1)
Bangladesh (9)
Australia (10)

GROUP B
Sri Lanka (2)
New Zealand (5)
Zimbabwe (8)

GROUP C
South Africa (3)
India (7)
Afghanistan (Q)

GROUP D
West Indies (4)
England (6)
Ireland (Q)



GROUP D FIXTURES
30 April - West Indies v IRELAND
1 May - England v IRELAND
3 May - West Indies v England

Ireland to play Jamaica ahead of World Twenty20

Cricket Ireland yesterday announced that Ireland would be taking on Jamaica in April ahead of the World Twenty20 which begins at the end of that month.

Ireland will be competing in a three-day first class match, a one day international, as well as a Twenty20 game. This will be great experience for the Irish side, especially if they can turn things around to qualify for the World Twenty20. If not, it is still a great chance to play a respected side in a variety of matches.

Cricket Ireland's CEO Warren Deutrom had this to say: "Cricket Ireland is excited to be embarking upon this series of matches in the Caribbean against Jamaica and the West Indies. Whether or not we have qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 Cup in the Caribbean, playing against teams of this calibre is exactly what Ireland needs to do in order to both continue its upward curve on the field, and to gain experience of overseas conditions. We are indebted to the foresight of the Jamaica Cricket Association, whose foresight brought about this opportunity."

Ireland - Afghanistan Intercontinental Match Rescheduled

The Ireland versus Afghanistan ICC Intercontinental Cup match due to take place from the 24th to the 26th of January in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, has been moved forward by two days due to a clash with the Sri Lankan Presidental Elections

The match will now be played from the 21th to 24th of January. According to the ICC "Sri Lanka Cricket requested the move for reasons of security and logistics."

The venue for the match has not been changed.