Jim McDaid, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, officially launched the Irish Cricket Union's (ICU) Strategic Plan 2001-2004 in the Leinster Cricket Club's Rathmines headquarters in Dublin yesterday morning. The Minister was welcomed by Tom Prior, president of the Leinster Cricket Union (LCU) and introduced by ICU chairman, Bob Kerr.

The comprehensive document follows on the National Development Strategy Report produced in 1997. The plan aims to help Ireland achieve one-day international status, but warns that failure to capitalise on burgeoning opportunities could put Irish cricket into decline.

Among the essential aims to help improve playing standards are qualification for the 2003 World Cup finals in South Africa via the International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy in Toronto this summer, the establishment of an Irish Cricket Academy and an All-Ireland League. This would be for the top clubs in the island and "should not be dismissed lightly".

Performance priorities include participation in the World Cup finals, winning the Triple Crown and the European Championships at least once in the next four years, along with similar success for the national underage teams.

The ICU and the Irish Women's Cricket Union will amalgamate at the ICU's a.g.m. next Sunday in Dundalk. The thus-constituted governing body of Irish cricket aims to appoint a chief executive and to set up northern and southern based offices to streamline the administration of the game at all levels.

The plan has set up two new committees, one to handle international and external publicity, and the other to inspect and grade international grounds. Clontarf's Castle Avenue is listed as Ireland's top international ground, with the Civil Service ground at Stormont in second place, while other proposed international venues include Rathmines, Malahide, The Mardyke, Eglinton, Beechgrove, Waringstown and Lurgan.

McDaid praised the ICU initiative in his address and mentioned the "substantially increased allocation of £43,968" from the Irish Sports Council. He was presented with a painting of the old Leinster Cricket Club clubhouse by the club president, Jim Kenny.

The ICU Development Committee which drew up the plan was chaired by John Caldwell, along with Joe Doherty, Philip Furlong, David Griffin, Ian Gourley, Bob Kerr, Siobhan McBennett and John Wright.