Cricket ICU annual general meeting:  Ireland's elite players will have to become contracted by the Irish Cricket Union if the sport in this country is to continue to develop long-term, according to the national coach. With the national side due to play an increasing number of games over the coming years, the greater commitment means the top players are spending more and more time away from their clubs, which in many cases are paying their wages.

"I fully endorse the contracting of players," coach Adrian Birrell told the ICU's annual general meeting. "If we look at next year, for example. We will have nine games in the Cheltenham & Gloucester competition. That's a big commitment just to start. When you add in all the other games and tournaments we are committed to, it represents a long time that players are away from their clubs."

Birrell was responding to a comment from former president of the Leinster Cricket Union David Williams, who suggested that regardless of the financial implications for the ICU, it was vital for cricket in Ireland that the top players should be professionals bound to the union.

"We need to keep pace with our rivals. I want all players to be available to me but the reality is that they are supported by their clubs and I find myself in a difficult position. It is something we will have to look at as quickly as we can," said Birrell.

With the ongoing success of Irish cricket on the international scene, there are several opportunities opening up. Qualification for the 2007 World Cup at this summer's ICC Trophy, to be hosted here in July, could open a number of doors for Ireland, particularly if they win the tournament. The union's honorary secretary John Wright said that the International Cricket Council was actively seeking nations to succeed at the higher grades of the game. But countries who have recently benefited from concentrated ICC support, such as USA and Kenya, have not developed as it was hoped.

"The ICC have a bad record of picking countries for development. They are looking for countries they can push forward. We lost out badly after Toronto (in 2001 when Ireland failed to qualify for the 2003 World Cup) but we have high hopes in July that all that will change," said Wright.

Meanwhile, the ICU installed its new president Stan Mitchell at the meeting. The president elect was announced as Roy Harrison from Waringstown CC.