Ireland will co-host the T20 World Cup in 2030 (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Ireland might be currently unable to stage much international cricket due to financial pressures, but do aim to leave a lasting “legacy” as co-hosts of the 2030 T20 World Cup.
Hopes are high after the Irish government approved the development of a 4000-seat cricket ground in Dublin. It would be a permanent international cricket stadium that doubles as a high performance center at the National Sports Campus.
Ireland has four grounds used for international cricket, but all require expensive temporary seating. It costs around a million Euros for Ireland to host Tests – thus they’ve only been able to stage two red ball matches on home soil since becoming a Full Member in 2017.
With cricket being well behind soccer and Gaelic football on the Irish sports pecking order, attracting sponsorships is difficult while governing body Cricket Ireland only get a fraction of International Cricket Council funding that is primarily gobbled up by money-spinner India.
Ireland had to postpone an upcoming home limited-overs series against Australia due to financial difficulties and forced to host white-ball cricket against South Africa in the UAE.
Ireland are due to play four Tests next year although it is not yet known how many will be at home. After recently clinching consecutive Test victories, having beaten Zimbabwe and Afghanistan this year, Ireland are not slated to play the long format until early next year.
Ireland recently defeated Zimbabwe in Test cricket at Stormont in Belfast (Photo By Oliver … [+]
Long Test cricket gaps and mostly playing abroad is likely to be a pattern until the Dublin stadium is operational. “It’s a lot cheaper for us to play overseas,” Cricket Ireland high performance director Richard Holdsworth told me.
“We will have to be cautious until we get more permanent facilities with our national stadium. We’re going to have to limit the amount we play at home.”
The stadium is planned to be ready for matches by 2028 before staging an ICC event – possibly a T20 World Cup qualifying event – the following year.
After the cautionary tale of the $30 million New York modular stadium, which was constructed in around 100 days but T20 World Cup matches there were blighted by substandard pitches, Ireland officials are keen to ensure facilities are top-notch by 2030.
Ireland – co-hosting the tournament with England and Scotland – will be staging matches in a major cricket event for the first time since the 1999 World Cup.
“We essentially want three seasons (worth of cricket) before the T20 World Cup,” Holdsworth said of the Dublin stadium. “You see what happened in New York. Need to give it (ground) plenty of time to be well tested and make sure that the wickets are decent.”
Ireland sports minister Catherine Martin was at the T20 World Cup, watching her compatriots endure frustrating inclement weather in Florida as their campaign fizzled out.
But discussions on the sidelines between Martin and Cricket Ireland’s top officials focused on the magnitude of the 2030 showpiece.
Catherine Martin was with the Ireland team during the T20 World Cup (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC … [+]
“She (Martin) was very interested in the T20 World Cup and the impacts the stadium can have on the sport in Ireland,” Holdsworth said.
“We need to leave a legacy from the World Cup. We need world class facilities – not just for Irish cricketers coming through, but also hosting other nations and giving them high quality facilities.
“We hope it will lead to Ireland hosting many Tests and major events in the future.”
