'Silver Jubilee' ICC Trophy is 'all about five'

Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, has officially launched the 2005 ICC Trophy, unveiling the fixtures schedule and highlighting that the event would offer a pathway to the 2007 World Cup 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 July 1 and concluding with the final at Clontarf on July 13.

"It is 25 years since Sri Lanka beat Canada in the final of the first ICC Trophy in England and on the occasion of this event's Silver Jubilee there is more at stake for the 12 participating teams than ever," said Speed, who was speaking at receptions for civic, media and host club representatives in Dublin and Belfast. "As 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.

"There 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. This 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."

The president of the Irish Cricket Union, Stan Mitchell, said the ICC Trophy would be "a huge shot in the arm for cricket throughout Ireland. The tournament will simply be the biggest event in the long history of the Irish Cricket Union and with five places at stake for the next ICC Cricket World Cup, it will build up terrific support. I 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," said Mr Mitchell.

"Cricket knows no boundaries in Ireland and we are particularly grateful to the ICC for breaking with the tradition of one centre to allow the tournament to be played north and south of the border. We are also most grateful to northern and southern government agencies and public bodies for helping to ensure the facilities necessary to host the tournament.

"I am very much aware that the tour represents a huge challenge of organisation but I have no doubt that host clubs up and down the country will be more than equal to the task. I am also confident that local enthusiasts will give tremendous support to all the games, making it a true and memorable festival of cricket. And I 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."

For the first time in the tournament's 25 year history the players will wear coloured clothing.