World Cup Qualifier 2023: Ireland set to begin tournament against Oman on June 19

ULAWAYO, Zimbabwe – Ireland Men begin their much-anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier campaign tomorrow morning against Oman. Here are all the details you need to know. The match against Oman starts at 9 am (Zimbabwe time) or 8 am (Ireland time). 

 The ICC announced yesterday the global broadcast arrangements, which will see Sky Sports broadcasting two of Ireland’s Group Stage matches in Ireland/UK.  All four group stage matches are available to watch via the Sky Sports app. All Super Six and Finals matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports.

• 21 June: Ireland v Scotland (broadcast starts 7.30 am Ireland time, Sky Sports Cricket)
• 25 June: Ireland v Sri Lanka (broadcast starts 7.30 am Ireland time, Sky Sports Mix)

THE SQUAD

Andrew Balbirnie (capt) (Pembroke), Mark Adair (CIYMS), Curtis Campher (YMCA), Gareth Delany (Leinster), George Dockrell (Phoenix), Graham Hume (Waringstown), Josh Little (Pembroke), Andy McBrine (Donemana), Barry McCarthy (Pembroke), PJ Moor (Clontarf), Paul Stirling (North Down), Harry Tector (YMCA), Lorcan Tucker (Pembroke), Ben White (Phoenix), Craig Young (Bready).

COACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF

With Nathan Hauritz unavailable, Cobus Pienaar has been brought in as a consultant coach to support the squad’s preparations ahead of the tournament. Pienaar is a South African-born former first-class cricketer turned coach, who played briefly for Waringstown in 2016.

The management team is:

• Head Coach: Heinrich Malan
• Batting and Wicketkeeping Coach: Gary Wilson
• Fast Bowling Coach: Ryan Eagleson
• Coach Consultant: Cobus Pienaar
• Physiotherapist: Mark Rausa
• Strength & Conditioning: Brendan Conner
• Performance Analyst: Scott Irvine
• Team Operations Manager: Chris Siddell

THE QUALIFIER EVENT

The 10 teams taking part in the qualifier are split into two groups of five teams:

Group A:

• Zimbabwe
• West Indies
• Netherlands
• Nepal
• United States

Group B:

• Sri Lanka
• Ireland
• Scotland
• Oman
• United Arab Emirates

Each side will play the other teams in their group once with the top three from each group progressing to the Super Six stage. In the Super Six, they will play the sides they did not meet in the group stage. 

All points won in the group stage will be carried over to the Super Six stage apart from those gained against the teams that fail to make it to the Super Six stage. The two top teams after the Super Six stage will contest the final, and will both progress to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

For the first time in this tournament, DRS will be used for all matches from the Super Six stage onwards. The Qualifier is the culmination of four years of hard-fought competition that brings together the bottom five teams from the ICC Men’s CWC Super League, three automatic qualifiers from the ICC Men’s CWC League 2, and two teams who gained entry from the ICC Men’s CWC Qualifier Play-off.

IRELAND MEN’S FIXTURES

Group A matches:

• 19 June: Ireland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club (start 9 am local time)
• 21 June: Ireland v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club (start 9 am local time)
• 25 June: Sri Lanka v Ireland, Queen’s Sports Club (start 9 am local time)
• 27 June: Ireland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club (start 9 am local time)