The Irish cricket team has defied expectations by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Cricket World Cup, courtesy of Pakistan’s victory against Zimbabwe tonight.

AFTER Saturday night’s victory over Pakistan, it’s surely only a matter of time before Ireland’s cricketers are accommodated in Croke Park.

Pakistan’s misery at being knocked out of the World Cup by Ireland has been compounded with the team being fined for a slow over rate during their shock three-wicket defeat in Jamaica yesterday.

Ireland’s cricketers celebrated St Patrick’s day in style with a superb performance in the field to dismiss Pakistan for 132 and raise hopes of a major World Cup shock.

Ireland coach Adrian Birrell is looking forward to the “huge challenge” the country’s involvement in the World Cup will provide.

Inzamam-ul-Haq has today been cleared of the charge of ball-tampering against him – but found guilty of bringing cricket into disrepute.

PAKISTAN’S cricket manager Bob Woolmer has attempted to dampen growing tensions by claiming his side are keen to play in the forthcoming one-day series against England.

PAKISTAN will continue with their tour of England despite the ball-tampering row but may review that decision following captain Inzamam-ul-Haq’s disciplinary hearing with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Pakistanis today burned pictures of Australian cricket umpire Darrell Hair and dubbed him a “mini Hitler” for his role in the sport’s first ever international forfeit – which awarded a game that Pakistan was winning to England.

PAUL COLLINGWOOD made partial amends for a costly error by becoming England’s unlikely candidate to halt Pakistan’s record-breaking march towards a major lead in the third Test yesterday.

ANDREW STRAUSS’S love affair with Lord’s continued yesterday when he marked his first Test as England captain with a century that left Pakistan already needing a ground record-equalling 342 to win the first Test.

Andrew Flintoff took two wickets in two balls to revive England’s hopes just when it seemed they were running out of time to force the result they need in Faisalabad to have any chance of registering a seventh successive Test series victory.

West Indies beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy yesterday to set up a final clash against England in the final at The Oval on Saturday.