Ireland land major sponsorship deal

Cricket Ireland has signed a 10-year, multi-million euro sponsorship deal with Indian conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji Group.

The company is owned by the Mistry family, who are an Irish family settled in India. The group will be an "official partner" to Cricket Ireland, and the board's academy which will now be known as the Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Ireland Academy.

Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom welcomed the deal saying: "The development of our next generation of international cricketers in the national academy is one of our most important tasks, and requires significant investment, understanding and an ability to take the long view.

"In the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, we are immensely proud to have found the perfect partner to share that vision, and help us mould our nation's cricketing future for at least the next 10 years."

For now 22 players - both, men and women - have been inducted into the academy's programme, which will give them the opportunity to travel abroad, especially to the subcontinent, to familiarise themselves with overseas conditions and styles of play. Later this year, there is a spin camp in Sri Lanka lined up for the players.

Among the 22, who will train under academy manager Craig Hogan and his support staff, are: Mark Adair, Scott Campbell, Rishi Chopra, Adam Dennison, Peter Eakin, Gary McClintock, James McCollum, Ryan Hunter, Rory Anders, David Delany, Tyrone Kane, Peter Chase, Sonny Cott, Colin Currie, Elena Tice, Fiona Gill, Lucy O'Reilly, Harry Tector, Jack Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Fiachra Tucker, Ben White.