Ireland coach Phil Simmons has dialled M for Murtagh. The coach sent for Middlesex bowler Tim Murtagh as concern mounted over the fitness of Alex Cusack at the World Twenty20 qualifier.

With the crucial final phase starting today, Ireland will need all hands as one defeat will mean an end to hopes of playing in Sri Lanka in September.

The Middlesex player - second highest wicket taker in England last season - has Irish grandparents.

The Irish Daily Star revealed last month that he had secured an Irish passport and was available for this tournament.

Simmons preferred to stand by his established players but summoned the Londoner on standby two days ago.

Murtagh arrived yesterday in good form after his county's pre season tour to South Africa.

He joins a squad with a stiff target - win all three games to qualify.

Ireland play Canada today, the winners of Scotland v Holland tomorrow, and the losers of Afghanistan v Namibia on Saturday. All games in the final phase will be shown on ESPN, with Setanta showing Ireland's games and RTE a highlights package on Saturday night.

Ireland's out of favour wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien arrived here yesterday too, but he won't be wearing green over the next three days.

O'Brien has been picked on the MCC team for the traditional season opener against the county champions.

He may be feeling a bit nervous about missing out on the tournament, which came about because he opted to play on the Bangladesh premier league instead of Ireland's tour to Kenya.

His stand-in, Gary Wilson, is a quality keeper and has been Ireland's batting star here with a string of solid scores.

He is the only Irishman with more than 200 runs, and his average of 51.75 ranks third in the tournament.

Does he think the added responsibility of keeping wicket has helped his batting?

"It's not really the reason why I've hit a purple patch," he told the Irish Daily Star. "it's just I've been working hard in the training camp in Port Elizabeth and all winter."

His early form earned him a leap up the batting order from no.6 to no.4, and he has enjoyed the extra opportunities, scoring his first twenty20 fifty for Ireland against Oman.

He is a crucial member of the Irish top order now, but does his performances here mean he will be the stumper when O'Brien's period in purdah is ended?

"Well, hopefully I'll keep wicket in the summer -- but it's not up to me," he said, diplomatically.