Irish cricket sets out plans to go mainstream

Ireland's cricket chiefs have launched an ambitious plan to rid the sport of its elitist perception and seek to challenge the popularity of the country's mainstream sports - football, rugby and GAA - by 2020.

The initiative, which was launched today in Dublin, comes after nearly a decade of headline-grabbing performances by Irish teams at world events, starting with their ousting of Pakistan from the Super Eights at the 2007 World Cup and continuing with their triumph over England at Bangalore in 2011.

However, speaking at the launch, Cricket Ireland's chief executive, Warren Deutrom, admitted that the sport's ambitions had to be broader than their previously stated intention of playing Test cricket by the end of the decade, and outlined plans to take cricket into the Irish mainstream.

"Our goal of playing Test matches by the end of 2020 needs to be broader and more ambitious," said Deutrom. "It needs to envision Ireland not just being a major force in cricket, but cricket being a major force in Ireland.

"When we think of 'major' in Ireland, we think of GAA, rugby and football. Well, why not cricket too? We need to shift perceptions of cricket as an elitist, exclusive sport to one that is open and accessible to all. We need to de-mystify the sport for the Irish public by making it visible, accessible, affordable and inspiring."

An increase in the number of fixtures against Full Member nations is one means to expand the popularity of the sport, and Deutrom also announced that two further T20Is against Hong Kong had been added to their schedule for 2016 - in addition to the 11 ODIs already scheduled against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Africa and Australia.

A further announcement of more ODIs in 2017 will be made on Wednesday in Belfast. Six home matches for Ireland Women have also been announced against Bangladesh, in addition to the seven games already scheduled against South Africa.

Deutrom also placed club cricket at the heart of Cricket Ireland's strategic plan, and announced a new scheme to help them grow through assistance with equipment and facilities.

The KPC Group were unveiled as Ireland's team sponsor for the next three years, with Irish sports company O'Neills extending their shirt sponsorship deal for a further four years to the end of the decade.