[Match Thread] Ireland v Zimbabwe (World Cup Pool B)

[Kriterion_BD]

Jaybro, the ICC actually only want 8 (really just 4) Test teams, forget about 10. Remember just a year ago BD and ZIM were going to lose their status until the BCB gave the BCCI their vote and ensured 10 teams. According to a lot of experts, including Ian Pont, the Irish are making serious efforts at Test status, similar but very different to the way the BCB went about it. The BCB was fortunate enough to be headed by one of the very few people in Bangladesh who actually knew how to get things done, Saber Hossain. Under Saber's stewardship the BCB demanded Test status and made whatever deals with the powers that be to see that it happened. No way in hell BD deserved to play Tests in 1999, but Saber got it done. If he hadn't, we would right now be sitting in the middle of World Cricket League Division 3, soundly getting beaten by Norway and the Cayman Islands instead of at the World Cup quarterfinals trying to compete with either of India or South Africa. It took our best generation of cricketers just to beat the Netherlands...only way after that was down.

Ireland have learned from the mistakes of the BCB, they are trying to ensure that they actually get good enough to avoid destruction before getting Test status. I think they are at that stage already, the Irish may also believe that behind closed doors, but they are playing it smart and safe and waiting. Upset a few sides then make your case. West Indies? Check.

I don't see what the complaints are about here. Ireland might be cocky and confident about their games, but so is Virat Kohli. And Ireland has backed it up, they've done better than any Associate ever - maybe Kenya from 1996-2003 can compare. If you can back it up, you can talk all the shit you want. Thats the rule. The United States can lecture other countries on democracy, human rights, and sponsoring terrorism because if you don't like it, we will bomb your army to space dust and annex your country into our empire. Other countries think we're arrogant and cocky, but guess what, we have all the guns and we make all the rules. Before us it was the British.

Ireland are just as disrespectful to BD...Trent Johnston claimed we don't play them due to fear of losing, and its true. The BCB can't get fixtures from top 8 sides and refuses to play Associates instead just sitting on their ass and twiddling their thumbs. You are supposed to show a certain level of disrespect to your opponent, whoever it is. If you constantly believe you're nothing and you suck, why compete?

And as far as I know, no one from the Irish camp (players/admins) has openly stated they want to replace BD/ZIM or think BD/ZIM are free loaders with their undeserved test status. We know thats how they feel inside, but they haven't openly said it, and as such we can't really accuse them without hard evidence. Bangladesh has lost to Ireland in 2 global events (2007 world cup, 2009 world T20) but almost all BD fans want to see Ireland do well and give the fuck you too the ICC and the Big 3. Also gives us another team to compete with since we're low on fixtures.

[eugene]

If Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have test status, there is no reason why Ireland shouldn't have it also.

[jaybro]

If Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have test status, there is no reason why Ireland shouldn't have it also.

I'd be more than happy for Ireland to have test status, Im just sick of them saying we shouldn't have it .....

[Kriterion_BD]

If Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have test status, there is no reason why Ireland shouldn't have it also.

I'd be more than happy for Ireland to have test status, Im just sick of them saying we shouldn't have it .....

Have they actually said that though?

I definitely believe they believe that deep down inside, and I don't blame them. I'm sure the Irish feel that way about BD, and BD didn't *deserve* Test status till 2013 (2010 if you're generous), so I agree with them there as well.

Its human nature, if you feel you deserve something and are denied to look at an equal and think "how come they have it, and I can't?"

[jaybro]

They have on numerous occasions said we don't deserve it .....

[Kriterion_BD]

Pretty hard to argue with them though isn't it? Do you see Ireland doing significantly worse than BD before 2010?

[jaybro]

Pretty hard to argue with them though isn't it? Do you see Ireland doing significantly worse than BD before 2010?

Again I'll ask where does it say there can only be 10 test nations ?? Why can't they get it without us loosing it??

If Ireland deserve it they will get it just leave us alone ......

[Kriterion_BD]

See, I don't think they're crass enough (while sober) to say on record they want to replace us. I have no doubt that's how they feel on the inside, but I can't recall seeing it anywhere. I think we're confusing confidence or on field cockiness as an existential threat.

I totally sympathize with Ireland (and a lesser extent Afghanistan). Maybe its because I'm a BD fan and many if not most us feel the exact same way about the Windies and England. We want to replace them in the ICC elite top 8. Who says there can only be a top 8? I agree with you on that but the ICC have adopted that as their policy and until that changes, we want to throw england or WI off the boat and take their seat. So I see exactly where Ireland are coming from, even though they 'disrespect BD'. At the very least, blame it on the booze, lol.

And Afghanistan have IMO crossed all boundaries in dissing us with their behavior in the world t20...I remember dawlat zadran obstructing the running between the wickets and intentionally making physical contact with Tamim or someone. That could be a level 1 offense if we pursued but we're not sissies like the BCCI. Then their captain was saying shit on record like "we have better [seamers and] batsmen than bangladesh" and "we dropped those catches to give Bangladesh a chance". That is unprecedented. But i still support the AFG as it brings excitement to the game. Makes a nice rivalry. The Irish haven't resorted to such vs Zimbabwe to my knowledge.