The International Cricket Council's annual meeting in Dubai may have, on the surface, been a good one for Ireland. But increasing our chances of qualifying for the World Twenty20 is a small consolation for a thoroughly disreputable decision on the part of the game's governing body.
The ICC's fudge, arrived at purely to ensure that the tournament goes ahead in lucrative London, but while still allowing Zimbabwe to sit at the game's top table, is comparable to Neville Chamberlain's piece of paper at Munich in 1938. Appeasing the Zanu-PF thugs that have taken over cricket in that country seems to have been top of the ICC's agenda, with the lucre and power-hungry Indians staunchly backing the Africans.
The Mugabe-supporting cabal have little interest in the game in their country, judging by their willingness to drop their stance once they were assured of the $1.2m fee for playing in the competition. The domestic first-class and Twenty20 competitions were both dropped at short notice in the last year. The game there is at a standstill with almost all its best players long gone.
The ICC last year commissioned a KPMG audit into the finances of the Zimbabwean game, but slapped a gagging order on it once it was submitted. A leaked copy said: 'It is clear that the accounts of ZC have been deliberately falsified to mask various transactions from the auditors and from the government of Zimbabwe.' It went onto say: 'It may be difficult to establish the correct financial position of ZC as it may not be possible to rely on the authenticity of its balance sheet.'
Peter Chingoka and Ozias Bvute, regarded by many as Mugabe supporters, are still in control of the ZCU and will get their hands on the annual ICC grant of $7m plus the $1.2m from the June tournament. While an associate member will take their place in the World Twenty20, they won't get anything like that sum. At the moment the two finalists from the Stormont qualifier will earn just $160,000 apiece. The discrepancy at the 2007 World Cup was even worse – Chingoka pocketed $11m while Ireland went home with $15,000.
Friday was a dark day for cricket; let's hope Will Porterfield's team can shine a little light next month.
Ireland will be boosted by the return of the county players. And while there was much chagrin at some of those who opted for shires ahead of the land of their birth, their return is a much needed boost after the Aberdeen debacle last week exposed the lack of depth in the squad. Porterfield, Eoin Morgan and Niall O'Brien have been having excellent seasons, with O'Brien ranked second best wicketkeeper in England behind Paul Nixon.
Muckamore bowler Neil Gill was the victim of some shoddy treatment last week. Gill was named in the published squad for Ireland A's one-day game with Bangladesh on Tuesday. He was still awaiting arrangements when he got a phone call the night before the game from Fintan McAllister in the team hotel, enquiring why he had been replaced. It beggars belief that no-one could make contact with Gill, and that he was summarily dropped because of someone else's failure.
It is not just an Irish problem. North-west batsman Danza Hyatt was told by Windies captain Chris Gayle last week to expect a call-up from the WI board. He's still waiting. And Inside Edge texted Ed Joyce on Thursday to congratulate him on his return to the England squad only to receive a ‘What squad?' reply!
There's a triple treat for Twenty20 fans at Sydney Parade today. The line up for the semi-finals and finals of the LHW Alan Murray Cup is a refreshing one, with the biggest clubs in the province all missing. The home club are first up against Rush while Merrion and Phoenix before the 5pm final. It is the first step back into the light by Pembroke, who had a nightmare win-less 2007. To the fore in the resurgence has been 17-year-old Andy Balbirnie, who was in the Irish squad for the Lashings visit to Wicklow. 'I batted number 11 last year,' he told Inside Edge, 'but I asked them to give me a shot at opening'. The ‘shot' has proved successful as the St Andrew's student clocked a series of brisk 40s to send his club into the playoffs. 'I really enjoy Twenty20. It gives you a chance to play your shots right from the first ball. There's more of a buzz, too, with good crowds and the coloured gear.'
Balbirnie was called up late against Lashings. 'It was great to be around those lads you look up. I was a bit nervous but I enjoyed the day.' He bowled in both games and hit a couple of sixes in making 26. He followed that with his first ‘A' cap, against Bangladesh.
His progress has been a great fillip to Pembroke, who have had little to cheer in recent years. 'Bríain O'Rourke's return was a great boost, and we have a decent pro and some new players, but the main reason for our improvement was that we were so motivated. Graham McDonnell, Theo Lawson and myself had a chat at the Under-19 World Cup and we resolved to start the season with a bang. We did well and it has been great since.'
O'Rourke's hand will be crucial for guiding youngsters such as Barry McCarthy (son of Steve) and Robbie Garth (son of Jonathan) who are starring on junior sides. The future is bright for Pembroke, and the six-year gap since they won a senior trophy could end today.