CRICKET: Ireland have been invited, along with India, England, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, to take part in a five-nation, one-day international series in Abu Dhabi next month.
The EurAsia Cricket Series, as it is known, which will take place between March 9th and 20th, is organised by the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Trust and has International Cricket Council approval. It is thought that while Ireland and the UAE will send their full national sides, the other countries have been encouraged to send an A team.
The Irish Cricket Union (ICU) yesterday confirmed Ireland will leave for Abu Dhabi on March 6th. The only real doubts are Dominick Joyce, Adrian McCoubrey and Jason Molins for a mixture of injury and work reasons. County-contracted players such as Kent's Niall O'Brien and Eoin Morgan of Middlesex have yet to secure releases, but the ICU does not feel this will be a problem as the County Championship will not have started by then.
Subject to the other countries accepting the invitation, Ireland will play Pakistan A on March 10th, England A - who may include Irishman Ed Joyce - on March 13th, the UAE on March 16th and India A on March 19th.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Trust has agreed to fly the 14-player and four-official squad over and put them up in five-star accommodation for the duration. They will also have all their meals and internal transport paid for as well as a daily allowance of $150 per player.
All the matches will be day/night games at the Shaikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
In 2005, Ireland qualified for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies and this tournament is seen as a way to improve the standards of Ireland's top cricketers ahead of that event.
