CRICKET: Following the fact-finding visit to this island by the charismatic Dr Ali Bacher some years ago, and his subsequent kind words about the admirable state of cricket here, hopes were high that the Irish Cricket Union's (ICU) application to stage the 2001 International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy, the qualifying tournament for next year's World Cup in South Africa, would be successful, writes Karl Johnston

Those hopes, alas, were quickly dashed; the tournament was awarded to Toronto (viewed, apparently, by the gentlemen of the ICC as a hot-bed of cricket), and worse still, Ireland then failed last year to qualify for the World Cup proper.

Either the hosting of the 2001 ICC Trophy, or the chance to compete in the World Cup itself, would have enormously enhanced the profile of Irish cricket. Which profile, as we know only too well, is about as high as a centipede's legs; right now, the European Championship is being staged in the north, but that event might as well be governed by the official secrets act, given the more-or-less total disinterest in it by the sporting media of the Republic.

Certainly, cricket earns much wider media exposure in the north, but in all-island (meaning, dare one say it?) national terms that does little to promote the game in the Republic. But now, with last week's official announcement that the 2005 ICC Trophy is to be staged here, the ICU has been given a major morale-booster as well as a wonderful opportunity to promote the game and bring it to a wider following.

Or has it? The ICC Trophy is staged every four years and involves 12 non-Test playing countries from all over the world, which should generate considerable interest here, come 2005; but a sentence in last week's official press release raises doubts.

That sentence read: "The International Cricket Council unanimously supported the tournament going to Ireland and now the Irish Cricket Union will decide whether it will be staged north or south of the border". .Now, there's a decision which would tax the judgement of a veritable sporting Solomon.

ICU sources admit that this will be a very difficult decision, one which most likely will be made after the end of the season and before the end of the year. One doesn't envy the ICU decision-makers; it will be difficult indeed for the Union to keep its own constituent governing bodies happy, let alone cricket followers at large.

It must be emphasised that the north-versus-south choice has nothing to do with politics or political divisions. Rather, the ultimate decision will be based on the logistics of keeping 12 teams, plus their managements and general followers, at a location within easy reach of the grounds where the matches will be played - which, realistically, boils down to either Belfast or Dublin.

The current European Championship taking place in the north also involves 12 countries, playing in two divisions of six teams each. Some 20 venues are being used to stage the 30 matches, all of which calls for a great deal of careful planning and excellent organisation.

Many cogent arguments can - and certainly will - be made for staging the 2005 tournament in the north. Followers and officials alike can point to the inescapable facts that cricket there enjoys a far higher profile, has more players and support, attracts infinitely greater media interest and exposure, not forgetting higher playing standards, as is borne out by the fact that only two southern clubs - Phoenix and North County - have won the Irish Senior Cup since the competition was inaugurated in 1982.

But the trouble is that if the 2005 ICC Trophy is staged in the north, the competition will have little or no impact in the rest of the island. And thus an invaluable means of promoting the game in the south will have been thrown away.

The ICU recently launched an imaginative and impressive "flyer" aimed at potential sponsors which lists the many advantages of becoming involved. "Cricket in Ireland knows no boundaries" declares one headline, using (presumably) a clever play on words. Well, that is certainly true, at least in playing terms, and, as all forward-thinking people would agree, long may that happy situation last.

Awarding the 2005 ICC Trophy to Ireland may be somewhat belated, given the antiquity and tradition of cricket in Ireland, but undoubtedly, it is arguably the best thing ever to have befallen the ICU. It gives the Union the means to promote and popularise the game, to attract more young players, to break down media indifference, and to win the valuable commercial backing of more and more sponsors.

All of which, obviously, is devoutly to be wished, but it won't happen if the competition is staged in the north only. The ICU's decision-makers face a difficult task.

Meanwhile, I mentioned here last week that Gerry Byrne has succeeded James Fitzgerald as ICU PRO for the south. Fitzgerald resigned from the post because of new career commitments.