LONDON: Ireland’s coach, Heinrich Malan has expressed that the upcoming T20 World Cup holds special significance. However, he highlighted the challenge his team faces in the “Catch-22 situation” of playing India in their opening match.
Following their historic Test victory against Afghanistan last week, Ireland is scheduled to play all their group matches in the United States. They will confront India and Canada in New York before heading to Lauderhill, Florida, to take on USA and Pakistan, who are co-hosting with the West Indies. Malan, speaking to reporters in a video conference before Ireland’s first one-day international against Afghanistan in Sharjah on Thursday, remarked on the exciting opportunity of playing cricket in America, a scenario unthinkable just a few years ago.
He acknowledged the task ahead, emphasizing the need to fulfill all requirements before departure. Despite the challenges, Malan expressed enthusiasm about facing cricket giants Pakistan and India in stadiums with capacities of 25 to 30 thousand spectators, aiming to deliver consistent and thrilling performances.
However, he acknowledged the formidable nature of their first match against India, particularly considering the players’ recent participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Malan emphasized the importance of Ireland’s preparation and approach to the game, hoping to catch their opponents off-guard while acknowledging India’s quality and depth. He expressed confidence in Ireland’s ability to compete with established cricketing nations and hoped for their performances to shine during the tournament in the United States.
