Niall O’Brien is fit after an operation on his finger and will return for Ireland on this month’s tour of Zimbabwe.

CRICKET Ireland has hired former coach Adrian Birrell in a consultancy role.

IRELAND’S hopes of qualifying for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers received a huge boost with the news that the squad’s English-based county cricketers will be available for next month’s qualifiers as well as the upcoming European Championships.

Ireland have announced their squads for the forthcoming T20 clash with Bangladesh 'A' at Eglinton on Friday, and the 50-over clash with the same opposition at Bangor on Sunday.

IRELAND’S young cricketers beat Namibia in the Plate competition of the U19 World Cup in Sri Lanka yesterday.