ICC Trophy countdown begins with launch of www.icc-trophy.com

Exactly one month ahead of the first round of matches in the ICC Trophy Ireland 2005, the ICC today announced the launch of www.icc-trophy.com

The website will cover all the latest news, scores and statistics from 12-team tournament which will determine the final five qualifiers for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

The eighth ICC Trophy runs from 1-13 July and over the coming weeks the ICC will be counting down to the event with tournament news and previews.

The tournament's 42 matches will be held at a record 25 venues across northern and southern Ireland beginning with six matches in the Belfast area on 1 July and concluding with the final at Clontarf near Dublin on 13 July.

As well as the excitement of the opening matches from 1 July, some of the tournament highlights are expected to be:

Thursday 7 July - final round of group games

At the end of the day's play, four of the five qualifiers for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 will be known. Matches on the day include holders, Holland, against one of the favourites, Scotland, with the possibility that the winner will be going to the Caribbean and the loser may miss out on a place at cricket's biggest ODI event. All 12 teams will be playing at venues that are within a short distance of Belfast.

Saturday 9 July to Monday 11 July - semi-finals and fifth-place playoff

On Saturday 9 July the semi finals will take place at Clontarf and The Hills near Dublin. At the same time there will be four sides battling it out in play-off matches for the final ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 qualifying spot at Malahide and North County. The winners of these two play-off matches will take part in the crucial fifth-place decider at Clontarf on Monday 11 July.

Wednesday 13 July - the final

The last two ICC Trophy tournaments have been decided on the final ball. Clontarf will host the climax of the 2005 event.

For further details on the event, visit www.icc-trophy.com