Having another major European cricketing nation will only serve the sport good. Because it will mean Cricket has major teams from every continent around the world. Cricket needs spicing up again. Less bilateral series and more triangular series and games with the best associates. There's no excuse for Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to avoid playing the likes of Ireland. ICC obviously needs to assist in that and develop emerging teams like Ireland.
I disagree . ICC should help develop cricket is third world countriesย like Kenya where there is a fan base .
Richย countries like Ireland should develop their own cricket from their own financial resources
Having any new team is a good thing for Cricket and the ICC should help accordingly.
Ireland is not a rich nation and in cricketing terms may have less support internally although this may be changing with players like Joyce having played and Morgan playing for England.
Kwams do not go along the colour route but I agree the ICC should help the most needy....West Indies? lol.
It would be helpful if the ICC put a ban on England buying their best players. A team contesting for full membership status needs all its best players available to be competitive against test playing nations. Losing the likes of Morgan and now Rankin has been massively detrimental to Ireland's progression.
It's not a ban that is needed, the ICC are the reason for these players "defecting" in the first place, both have said that Ireland need to be a test nation, and until they are players will continue to be drawn to the ECB. Can you blame them?
Ireland need to be playing lots of ODI games against full members by now but that clearly hasn't been the case. ICC needs to help out so that the sport develops and reaches to other countries. Remember Kenya? hate for Ireland to be the same. Fantastic of West Indies agreeing to hold matches against Ireland and other full members should do the same even if its a 1 off game. Bangladesh will be touring the Caribbean this year in July and what not better way to prepare for that tour by going over to Ireland and play an ODI series and possibly a first class game. Will serve everyone well in my view and the good of the sport.
