Irish cricket signs promising South African all-rounder for 2007

THE Irish Cricket Union have signed 21-year-old Vernon Philander as one of their two permitted overseas players for this year’s Friends Provident Trophy.

The South African all-rounder is highly regarded in his native country, having just missed out on selection for the World Cup — he had been named in the preliminary squad of 30.

He has played 26 first class games, scoring 1,046 runs at an average of 26.15, with a highest score of 168. He has also taken 71 wickets at an impressive average of 24.19. He played international cricket at Under 19 level for South Africa, and his domestic clubs include the Cape Cobras and Western Province.

Irish Cricket Union Vice Chairman David Williams said: “Vernon was recommended to us many months ago, and we’ve been monitoring his progress very closely during the current South African season. He’s been very impressive this year, and following discussions with Russell Adams, the Cape Cobras manager, we are delighted to have secured his signature.”

Ireland Coach Adrian Birrell believes Philander will prove to be a valuable acquisition: “He’s a very talented player, and I heard nothing but good reports about him during our recent training camp in Eastern Province. He can be very explosive with both bat and ball, and I’m sure Irish supporters will enjoy watching him in action.”

Meanwhile Ireland’s hopes of upsetting Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup on St Patrick’s Day have increased with the news that pace bowling duo Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been ruled out of the event through injury.

Shoaib has been struggling with a knee injury that forced him to withdraw from Pakistan’s South African tour, while Asif has been labouring with an elbow knock.

Coach Bob Woolmer said: “It is a huge blow but their injuries would have taken more time and we couldn’t wait any more.

“We now know where we stand. It is true that our chances have been hit badly by the absence of these two key bowlers but we will have to show the kind of spirit and team unity which can win us a big event like the World Cup.”

Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami have been drafted into the squad as replacements.

Ireland begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on March 15th, before facing Pakistan and the West Indies on the 17th and 23rd and would need two wins to advance beyond the group stage.

Meanwhile the International Cricket Council says it will step up its drug-testing procedures at the World Cup.

It follows the “embarrassment” caused by Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who played for Pakistan a few months after testing positive for nandrolone.

Shoaib and Asif both tested positive for nandrolone last September but had lengthy doping bans quashed on appeal in December after claiming they had not knowingly taken the banned substance.

Ireland fixtures (Friends Provident Trophy): 22 April, Ireland v Gloucestershire, Dublin l 29 April, Ireland v Kent, Belfast l 6 May, Somerset v Ireland, Taunton l 7 May, Hampshire v Ireland, Rose Bowl l 13 May, Ireland v Essex, Dublin l 27 May, Surrey v Ireland, Brit Oval l 28 May, Sussex v Ireland, Hove l 10 June, Ireland v Middlesex, Dublin l 13 June, Ireland v Glamorgan, Belfast.