ICC to discuss Ireland's full membership plea

Dubai : Cricket Ireland's request for full membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be discussed during the two-day ICC Board meeting to be held here from today.

Though Ireland lost the opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers to Afghanistan yesterday here, they have been consistently performing in tournaments around the world.

They had already established as the best associate cricketing nation with creditable victories over Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and regular victories over a Test-playing nation like Bangladesh in both 50-over and Twenty20 formats of the game. They are also the holders of the ICC Intercontinental Cup winning three editions of the event.

The board will hold a discussion on how to deal with their application and the Governance Review Committee's consideration of current membership criteria.

An update on preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will also be discussed and also hear a final report on the ICC Centenary Celebrations which were held throughout 2009.

The board will also discuss updates from a number of task teams charged with responsibilities to look into ways to support Pakistan and general security around international cricket.

The umpire decision review system will also come up for discussion. The outcome of the ICC-Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) strategy meeting which was held in Dubai will also be examined for further action.