The ICC Executive last week received a report on cricket in Zimbabwe which recommended that the troubled African land be invited to play in the Intercontinental Cup as part of their road back to test cricket.
While this throws up several thorny problems – would the EU countries of Ireland, Holland and Scotland allow visas to all the Zimbabwean entourage for starters – it needs to be sorted soon as the first fixture in the event is on 3 July. Of course the recommendation gives ambitious associates, of which Ireland is the prime, a tasty target. If Zimbabwe were to be beaten, where would that leave ICC's plan to reintroduce Mr Mugabe's benighted country? Watch out for serious amounts of money, encouragement and prime fixtures heading for Harare if this plan is adopted.
And while you're at it, watch out for enormous amounts of development assistance about to be thrown at Afghanistan. While the story of their rise from refugee camps through four divisions to ODI status is a genuine heart-warmer, their geography makes them a very attractive project for the Henry Higgins treatment by the Asian superpowers.
Irish cricket press boxes will not be the same again with the retirement of David Townsend. The convivial Englishman first began covering Ireland games in the early 1990s and soon became a regular fixture on the boundary rope. Besides his polished contributions with pen and laptop, he deserves at least a footnote in the history of the game. Unlike previous Irish Independent reporter James Fitzgerald, Townsend was never likely to be pressed to serve on the field in a crisis. But his astute reading of the situation in the first Intercontinental Cup final helped bring about a remarkable win.
Kenya had ambitions to press for test status and needed only to draw on the flattest of wickets to win the trophy.
'It occurred to me that this could be used against them', recalled Townsend, 'and during luncheon I pulled skipper Trent Johnston to one side and suggested the only way to win was to declare behind and challenge Kenya to set a target for Ireland to chase on the final afternoon.
'If the Kenyans proved reluctant to do this, Ireland would need to get in their ear along the lines of 'If you're frightened to take us on, how the hell do you think they're going to let you play Australia?'
'The moment of the declaration was beautiful with the fielders and the umpires remaining in the middle for a good two minutes before they realised what had happened. And then Kenya's batting just capitulated. While Trent still refers to it as Operation Townsend, he and coach Adi Birrell should take most of the credit for actually being open to an idea from a mere journalist.'
Townsend could still be a presence at Irish grounds if the Cricket Ireland plan to provide internet radio commentary on games comes to fruition.
The rugby legend Jack Kyle was guest of honour at the annual dinner of the Sunday Independent cricket society last week. The Grand Slam out-half of the late 40s was no mean cricketer in his day, captaining an Ulster Schools side in 1944 that included fellow rugby international John Hewitt and cricket cap Larry Warke. Kyle also played for Queens University, touring Dublin in 1945 when he played against Trinity, Merrion, Leinster and YMCA.
Few of those who played that week are still alive, but one, Jack Sweetman, was present at the dinner. Sweetman opened the batting for Leinster with a 14 year old schoolboy called Gerry Duffy.
For the record, all rounder Kyle scored 4, 42, 1, 38 and 26 not out. He also claimed the wicket of Trinity batsman Harry Read, aged 56.
Read won four cricket caps for Ireland before World War I but is best remembered as the man who, with fellow Trinity rugby and cricket cap Dickie Lloyd, invented the modern system of half-back play.
The evening climaxed with the award of player of the year to André Botha, who is the first man to win it twice.
The recent Irish win in the World Cup Qualifier has proved a boost to several players' individual ICC one-day international rankings. The O'Brien brothers are the top-ranked batsmen, with Kevin now 57th and Niall 67th. Among associate players only Ryan ten Doeschate (Holland) and Steve Tikolo (Kenya) are ahead of the Railway Union pair. Captain Will Porterfield, who scored two centuries and two 50s in the tournament, has jumped 22 places to 79th on the back of his 515 runs in South Africa. Eoin Morgan lies 91st.
Peter Ongondo (Kenya) is top associate in 29th place, but two of the walking wounded in South Africa, Kyle McCallan (49th) and Andre Botha (55th), lead Ireland's bowlers. Trent Johnston (up 10 places to 73rd) and Boyd Rankin (up eight places to 98th) are other big movers.
David Langford-Smith, who retired a year ago, is still ranked 90th.