Sport

Belfast venue gets top status

THE IRISH Cricket Union has earmarked the Civil Service grounds, on the outskirts of Belfast, to be developed to international…

By KARL JOHNSTON
Thu Jul 03 1997 - 01:00

THE IRISH Cricket Union has earmarked the Civil Service grounds, on the outskirts of Belfast, to be developed to international playing standards.

The ICU says that in two years time top games will be hosted there, and pledges to approach the Northern Ireland Sports Council to help finance the project.

Southern followers will be mollified by the fact that Clontarf CC's Castle Avenue facility "is also to be further developed and financial aid will be sought from the Southern authorities," according to yesterday's ICU news release. As the official statement said, Castle Avenue has "long been recognised as an international venue."

This is good news for Clontarf, but not so good for the Leinster and Malahide clubs. Both were considered but failed to cut the mustard.

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The International Cricket Council has stipulated that Ireland must have grounds up to international standard to qualify for one-day international status or to qualify for future World Cup matches.

Ireland already has been granted the West Indies-Bangladesh 1999 World Cup match, but the venue is still "to be arranged," as they say. Mount Juliet, as revealed on Monday, has pitched for that confrontation, but the ICU has yet to decide.

According to yesterday's statement, the ICU considered "a number of grounds" in Ulster before opting for Civil Service. Others in the running were North, Downpatrick, North Down, Lisburn and Cliftonville. Civil Service got the vote because of car parking, population and seating potential, as well as its ability to provide up to four wickets "to be used exclusively for international games".

Grounds where top matches have been played will still host first-class fixtures. But the "very top games," according to ICU chairman Gavin Craig, will go to the developed venues only.

Still, Leinster, Malahide, et al, should take hope, at least according to the chairman. He cites as an example the projected arrival in Ireland next year of Australia A to play five matches and the possibility of a quadrangular tournament. The message is, get your grounds in order.