CRICKET IRELAND CEO, Warren Deutrom, is quietly optimistic that Ireland will be granted Test status in June under new structures approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) this week.

Under the new proposals, the governing body will submit an application to become one of two new Test teams and, if all the criteria is met, there is a possibility Ireland will be granted full member status this summer.

Ireland’s application, which will include details on player pathway structures, the academy system, the first class interprovincial competition, coaching and umpire education, governance and financial sustainability, will be presented to a newly-created ICC membership committee.

The ICC’s annual conference takes place on 22 June, a date likely to become one of the most significant in Irish cricket history as a decade-long bid to earn Test status comes to fruition.

Speaking at the announcement of a sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines this afternoon, Deutrom said ‘there are still hoops to jump through’ but is confident all the necessary steps have been taken.

“Currently what’s proposed is that ten teams will become 12, but only nine will be involved in a regular league system,” he said.

“The discussion is that Zimbabwe wont be part of the league, and will play Test matches against Ireland and Afghanistan is we are to become Test countries.

“There’s about 20 to 25 new criteria that have been put forward for new full members to satisfy. Then there’s the cricket playing terms of course; you have to have demonstrated a strong performance over a period of years, not just men but also women and across the three formats of the game.

Warren Deutrom. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Ahead of a busy international summer, which begins next week as Ireland face England in a two-game series, this news and confirmation of a new shirt sponsor is a huge boost for Irish cricket.

Turkish Airlines have come on board as the new headline sponsor of the men’s senior team on an initial one-year deal, but there is an option to extend for a further two seasons until 2020.

John Bracewell’s side play England at Bristol and Lords on Friday 5 May and Sunday 7 May before hosting New Zealand and Bangladesh for a tri-series in Dublin later next month.

It was also announced this morning that eir Sport will be broadcasting live coverage of that series, which starts with Ireland’s clash with Bangladesh in Malahide on 12 May.

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