ICC decision a boost for Irish chances

CRICKET NEWS:IRELAND'S CHANCES of qualifying for the World Twenty20 finals were boosted last night after the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that a third Associate nation will take the place of Zimbabwe at next year's event in England.

The move comes after a compromise was struck at a meeting of the ICC executive board in Dubai yesterday which saw Zimbabwe agreeing to pull out of the tournament but hold on to its full member status and the €7 million of funding they receive annually. They will also retain their appearance fee for the event.

Although the decision is still to be ratified by the Cricket Zimbabwe board, it is expected to be approved after the British government threatened to refuse Zimbabwe players visas for the tournament. Zimbabwe's tour of England next summer had already been cancelled for the same reason.

Samir Inamdar, the chairman of the ICC's Affiliates and Associates, confirmed the third-placed team from next month's qualifiers in Belfast will take Zimbabwe's place.

"The third associate will come through the qualifiers in August this year. I have had a conversation with Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, who has agreed that it is logical to replace Zimbabwe with an associate," said Inamdar.

The ICC have yet to confirm if the third associate qualifier will receive the €160,000 participation fee, but Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom is confident that will not be an issue.

"I would be surprised if the other country coming in would not be able to benefit," said Deutrom.

With the qualifying tournament due to start at Stormont four weeks from today, Cricket Ireland are left with some logistical issues, as no third/fourth place play-off was included in the original schedule of the six-nation event. The likelihood is the final will be moved back a day to Tuesday, August 5th, with the play-off taking place the same day.

Meanwhile, the highlight of today's local cricket action sees Rush entertain Leinster in the quarter-finals of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup. It is the fourth straight year Rush have made it to the last eight of the competition, and they will go in as favourites against a Leinster side that have gone out in the preliminary round in the last three years.

Merrion face a tough battle against Limavady, while The Hills' clash against North County has been postponed because of the Skerries Road Races today.

County will be in action tomorrow in the refixed Antalis Leinster Senior Cup semi-final against Railway Union at Balrothery, while the finals of the LHW Twenty20 Cup take place at Sydney Parade. The first semi-final gets under way at 11am.

TODAY:Irish Senior Cup Quarter-finals (12.30): Donemana v Waringstown, Donemana; Merrion v Limavady, Anglesea Road; Rush v Leinster, Kenure Park.

WM League:Section B (12.30): Munster Reds v YMCA, Mardyke; Railway Union v Old Belvedere, Park Avenue.

TOMORROW:Leinster Senior Cup Semi-final (11.0): North County v Railway Union, Balrothery.

LHW Twenty20 CupSemi-finals (at Sydney Parade): Pembroke v Rush 11.0; Phoenix v Merrion, 2.0. Final: 5.0.