Ireland awarded plum date with West Indies

The West Indies Cricket Board confirmed the games and dates yesterday, with the T20 games on Wednesday February 19 and Friday 21, with the ODI following two days later.

The three games will be played at Sabina Park, the venue for the game where Ireland announced their arrival on the world stage, when they defeated Pakistan on St Patrick's Day in 2007.

West Indies have agreed to the games as preparation for England's short visit, which includes three ODIs and three T20 games in preparation for the World Twenty20 finals in Bangladesh in March.

But, announcing the short series against Ireland, Richard Pybus, the WICB's Director of Cricket, acknowledged Ireland's growing status in the world game. He said: "We are delighted to welcome the Irish team to play against our Windies in this upcoming series.

"It comes immediately after the NAGICO Super50 Tournament and will be a great opportunity for the squad to get quality preparation ahead of the visit by England and before they head off to defend the ICC World T20 title which they won so spectacularly back in October 2012."

Ireland have not beaten the West Indies in an official ODI, their last victory was at Stormont in 2004 when they chased down the tourists' total of 292 for seven to win by six wickets. Niall O'Brien (58 not out), Andrew White (32 not out) and John Mooney (3-67) are the current members of the squad who will still be involved 10 years on.

The teams last met at the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka but the game was abandoned by rain, after the Ireland innings, and the one point put West Indies through to the second stage and sent Ireland home.

Ireland travel to Trinidad on January 23 as guests of the West Indies board to play in the Regional Super50 tournament and will move on to Jamaica on February 16.

The games in Trinidad are a homecoming for National Coach Phil Simmons and he says he is excited by the opportunity for the squad.

"There's no doubt that the matches will be of a very high standard and it's a perfect platform for Irish cricket to show the West Indian public just how far their cricket has progressed in the past few years," he said.