MAX Sorensen, the most controversial omission from Ireland's World Cup squad, will be involved in the Finals in Australia and New Zealand after all.

Cricket Ireland finally confirmed yesterday that Tim Murtagh, the 33-year-old Middlesex professional, has a stress fracture of his right foot - as revealed in last Monday's Belfast Telegraph - and following surgery in England last week, doctors advised it will “not recover in time for him to take any major part in the tournament (from February 16-March 15)”.

The selectors have moved quickly to ensure that “Ireland have a fully fit squad available from the start of the tournament” and called Sorensen into the squad which is currently playing the final game of the Tri-Series in Dubai, against Scotland.

Sorensen is one of five pace bowlers who have been used as net bowlers for the squad in Dubai and working with National Academy manager Craig Hogan, but he was always ahead of the others for a World Cup call-up in the event of injury.

The 29-year-old South African-born all-rounder, who plays his club cricket with The Hills, is on a full-time contract with Cricket Ireland and before the current series in the UAE, had played in the last eight one-day internationals, taking 12 wickets. He has played a total of 53 games, since his debut in February 2012, scoring 255 runs at an average of 15 and taking 81 wickets at 18.84. Murtagh's batting average for Ireland is 10.43 and in his 30 games has taken 29 wickets at 28 each.

Ireland lost their unbeaten record in the Tri-Series in Saturday's 71 runs defeat to Afghanistan as the batting failed again, forcing them to win today's game - or at least avoid defeat - against the Scots to win the Tri-Series.