Ireland have been pooled with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and one as yet unknown wild card entry in the preliminary round of the cricket Youth World Cup, to be played in South Africa next January. The national under-19 side qualified for the global competition in the youth tournament in Bermuda last July.
The top two teams from each of four pools will compete in a super league from which the two eventual finalists will emerge. Denmark are favourites to get the wild card entry.
The Irish Cricket Union's youth director, Dessie McCall, admitted yesterday that the draw was difficult, but said: "It is as kind as it could have been.
"With at least two front-line Test countries in each pool it was never going to be easy for Ireland," he said. "But we have a real chance of progressing, and I think it could well come down to ourselves or Sri Lanka going through, along with Pakistan."
The 20-man squad will begin serious training and coaching this weekend, and the final 14-strong party will be selected next month. McCall will manage the team with Mike Hendrick as coach.
