MINISTER FOR Sport Leo Varadkar has offered the Government’s help in challenging internationally the decision which has excluded Ireland from the next Cricket World Cup.
A reception in the Irish team’s honour was hosted yesterday at Farmleigh House, at which Mr Varadkar’s cricket-mad Indian-born father Dr Ashok Varadkar and his wife Miriam attended.
Only the 10 test-playing nations will take part in the next World Cup in 2015 in Australia. Despite beating England in the World Cup, Ireland, along with all other associate countries, have been excluded by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s governing body.
When pressed on what practical help the Government could give, Mr Varadkar cautioned that politics and sport often do not mix.
“I’m saying to Cricket Ireland that my offices are there to lobby on their behalf, but we will be guided by them in that regard. I don’t want to go in there and make a political or diplomatic issue of it if it is counter-productive.”
Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom said the occasion was supposed to have been one of “pure celebration” but was overshadowed by a decision which had caused “outrage and disbelief” not only in Ireland but throughout the cricketing world.
Support for Ireland had come from all quarters, and the only people who appeared to agree with the decision were the “men in suits” from the ICC who had made it.
He said they were now looking to challenge the ICC decision. “To my knowledge no ICC decision was ever overturned before, but no decision has attracted such worldwide opprobrium either.”
All the home-based players were at last night’s reception. Ireland’s overseas players, including captain William Porterfield and wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien, are back playing for their English counties.
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