ICC Media Release
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed today officially launched the ICC Trophy Ireland 2005, unveiling the fixtures schedule and highlighting that the event would offer a pathway to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 for five countries.
The eighth ICC Trophy will see 42 matches held at a record 25 venues across northern and southern Ireland beginning with six matches around Belfast on 1 July and concluding with the final at Clontarf on 13 July. ãIt is 25 years since Sri Lanka beat Canada in the final of the first ICC Trophy in England and on the occasion of this eventâs Silver Jubilee there is more at stake for the 12 participating teams than ever,ä said Mr Speed who was speaking at receptions for civic, media and host club representatives in Dublin and Belfast.
ãAs well as competing for the prestigious ICC Trophy, this event is about the five remaining places at the next ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.
ãThere are five previous winners of the ICC Trophy. Three have gone on to claim Test match status while the other two, the holders Holland and United Arab Emirates, will be amongst the contenders in Ireland.
ãThis event provides a unique insight into the relative merits of the top teams outside the established Test-playing nations. The Irish Cricket Union and its stakeholders now have three-and-a-half months to deliver a world class event and I wish them every success with their task.ä
The President of the Irish Cricket Union, Stan Mitchell, said the ICC Trophy would be ãa huge shot in the arm for cricket throughout Irelandä.
ãThe tournament will simplyÊbe the biggest event in the longÊhistory of the Irish Cricket Union and with five places at stake for the next ICC Cricket World Cup, it will build up terrific support.ÊI have no doubt it will give a new lease of life to the sport throughout the island, not only at the highest level but also at that vitally important grass-roots, development level,ä said Mr Mitchell.
ãCricket knows no boundaries in Ireland and we are particularly gratefulÊto the ICCÊfor breakingÊwith the tradition of one centre to allow the tournament to be played north and south of the border.ÊÊWe are also most grateful to northern and southern government agencies and public bodies for helping to ensure the facilities necessary to host the tournament.
ãI am very much aware that the tour represents a huge challenge of organisation but I have no doubt thatÊhost clubs up and down the country will be more than equal to the task.
ãI am also confident that local enthusiasts will give tremendous support to all the games, making it a true and memorable festival of cricket. AndÊI would appeal to cricket enthusiasts abroad to travel to Ireland, not just to support their team, but to enjoy the hospitality for which Ireland is justly famous.ä
The group stage of the ICC Trophy will begin at venues around Belfast on 1 July before the knockout stages climax in the Dublin area with the final on 13 July.
For the first time in the tournamentâs 25 year history the players will wear coloured clothing.