Published: Mar 15, 2015, 09:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 15, 2015, 09:19 PM (IST)
Ireland lost to Pakistan on Sunday and with that their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 campaign ended. However, that is not the end of the road for the European side. Sudatta Mukherjee writes why Ireland should leave ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with head held high and capitalise on their current power. Top 10 batsmen in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Just a few days after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 kicked off, ICC Chief Executive Officer Dave Richardson had revealed ICC’s to curtail the participating teams from 14 to 10 in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Moreover, he added that such a step would affect the number of matches the associate nations would get to play against top-ranked teams. Top 10 bowlers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Such a statement by the ICC CEO was criticised by many cricket lovers. However, the team most affected by the statement was undoubtedly Ireland, a side that has come a long way in the last few years. They have been a major power from the associate nations, and it is due time they got the respect they deserved. Top 10 fielders in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
It took Bangladesh a single victory against Pakistan in ICC World Cup 1999 to get Test status; what more should Ireland do? They crushed Pakistan’s dreams in ICC World Cup 2007 before beating England in ICC World Cup 2011, in what still remains as one of the most thrilling matches across all World Cups. Not only that, Ireland defeated West Indies in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and at one point they were second on the points table in Pool B, just after India in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
However, following their loss against Pakistan on Sunday, despite a fighting century by skipper William Porterfield, Ireland’s tournament journey ended based on net run rate after West Indies and Pakistan managed to get a few decimal points more. But the arguments, debates, and battles have not gone in vain. Ireland have come a long way. Top 10 wicketkeepers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Let us talk about their skipper, William Porterfield, first. With 275 runs from six matches at an average of 45.83, Porterfield has led the team from the front and even in loss he has come ahead and praised his teammates and the opposition. He refused to be satisfied with the tag of “associates.” He believed that Ireland can qualify for the quarter-final when the makers of the game were deciding to decrease the number of participating games instead of finding ways of promoting the game even further. He also refused to accept that the win against West Indies was a fluke. Ireland should take note of their brave captain. He should be an example for all associate nations on how a captain leads a team. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Pool-wise Team Standings
Now let us talk about John Mooney and the controversy around his past. It is really sad how the Zimbabwe Herald’s journalist questioned Mooney’s honesty and sparked headlines when he spoke of his past battles with alcoholism and depression. But did that cause an angry rant from Mooney himself? Instead he chose compassion. He came out and wrote a long note on his Facebook status, in which he shared that how he is scared for all the people suffering from the same disease as he did. Rather than taking action against the newspaper and the man, he chose to ignore them and used the moment to remind the people suffering that they are not alone. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
The 15-member squad, including the support staff and even the people behind their social media pages had one sole purpose – support team Ireland till the end and even beyond. That is what they did. Even when the target of 237 against Pakistan looked small, the social media page took out a picture of Ireland playing Australia in the quarter-final. Some may call it overconfidence but for them it is belief; belief that they are made to play on a bigger stage.
Ireland should not take the loss to their hearts and welcome their cricketers with arms stretched out. The nation should celebrate what they have achieved in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and capitalise on their present popularity and power. The whole world is watching them now, and we are hoping to see them in more matches. Not just the World Cup, but even beyond. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
(Sudatta Mukherjee is a reporter with CricketCountry. Other than writing on cricket, she spends penning random thoughts on her blog. When she is not writing, you will catch her at a movie theatre or watching some English television show on her laptop. Her Twitter handle is @blackrosegal)
