The Ireland cricket team are eager to bag some silverware Dubai after they sealed automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup following a tense weekend of action.
There was a dramatic climax to the Group B fixtures but Ireland managed to hold on to the top spot on Net Run Rate and thereby progress to the World Cup tournament.
Six sides from the T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament progress to the World Cup in Australia next year, with automatic qualification being handed to the two teams who topped their respective groups.
However, that does not end their competitive involvement in the qualifier event with a semi-final (and a potential tournament final) still ahead for the men in green.
Speaking in Dubai, Ireland captain Gary Wilson insisted that the squad are not satisfied to just sit back having achieved qualification.
"We did our job in the last two games, put the pressure back on Oman to get a result and, fortunately, Jersey did us a favour," said Wilson.
"It's great that we can look forward to another World Cup but nothing has changed. I said at the start of the tournament the objective was not just to qualify but to win it and we will do that if we play our best cricket on Friday and Saturday."
The side has relocated from its previous base in Abu Dhabi and have moved to Dubai ahead of their semi-final match on Friday against the Netherlands at the Dubai International Stadium (2.10pm [local time] or 10.10am [Irish time]).
23-year old Mark Adair (pictured) has emerged as a real star of the tournament for the Irish team.
Having only made his international debut in May 2019, Adair has had an impressive start to his senior career.
There was an eye-catching debut performance against England in an ODI, six wickets on his Test debut at Lord’s and now he is leading the line at the World Cup Qualifiers, taking 10 wickets at an average of 11.
Adair admits that it was a nervous 24-hour wait for results that would eventually see Ireland seal top spot and qualify.
"Yeah, it was closer than what we wanted, but Jersey did us a nice favour there and we managed to top the group," said Adair.
"To be honest, it wasn't a great 24 hours, you'd rather win all your games and qualify conventionally - to control your own destiny, but it’s not the way we did it this time around.
"It was a pretty strange feeling to be watching and supporting another team because you know they have such an effect on your standing. But, thank you Jersey."
Adair has been happy with how he has played but admits that there aspects of his performances that he must improve on.
"My bowling has been good, the ball has been coming out pretty well and it was a pretty simple game plan we had which helped us out there," added Adair.
"I was disappointed with my batting performances but we have another two games left to maybe try and get that right."
"There's a lot of lads in the squad with this being their first trip, and they’ve been playing with no fear of failure, so that has brought a lot of positivity to the group."
UPCOMING FIXTURE
- 1 November 2019: Ireland v Netherlands (semi-final)
Dubai International Stadium
2.10pm start (local time) or 10.10am (Irish time)
Broadcast available on Sky Sports Cricket
SQUAD
The squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier is:
- Gary Wilson (Northern Knights) (Captain), Mark Adair (Northern Knights), Andrew Balbirnie (Leinster Lightning), David Delany (Northern Knights)*, Gareth Delany (Leinster Lightning), George Dockrell (Leinster Lightning), Shane Getkate (Northern Knights), Kevin O’Brien (Leinster Lightning), Boyd Rankin (North West Warriors), Simi Singh (Leinster Lightning), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Harry Tector (Northern Knights), Stuart Thompson (North West Warriors), Lorcan Tucker (Leinster Lightning), Craig Young (North West Warriors).
* Delany has been replaced by Barry McCarthy after suffering a knee injury
