Ireland drawn with defending champions India for 2015 World Cup

Ireland’s cricketers and their supporters face a whistle stop tour around Australia and New Zealand at the 2015 World Cup after the draw was confirmed at a join announcement in Melbourne and Wellington this morning.

Phil Simmons’s side were the first of the non Full Members to qualify for the tournament following a win and a tie away to the Netherlands recently and will play in Pool B alongside defending champions India.

Four of Ireland’s games will take place in Australia, although they open with a game against West Indies in Nelson at the top of the south island in New Zealand on Monday February 16th.

They then face a nine-day gap to their second game against the lowest ranked qualifier at The Gabba in Brisbane on February 25th, before moving south to Canberra and a clash with South Africa on March 3rd.

Ireland will take on Zimbabwe at Hobart in Tasmania on March 7th, before a tough end to the pool with games against India in Hamilton, New Zealand on March 8th before returning to Australia to take on Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval on March 15th.

The top four sides in each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition with the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground hosting the final of the 14-team tournament.

IRELAND’S WORLD CUP 2015 POOL B SCHEDULE

Monday February 16th: v West Indies, Nelson, New Zealand

Wednesday February 25th: v Qualifier, Brisbane, Australia

Tuesday March 3rd: v South Africa, Canberra, Australia

Saturday March 7th: v Zimbabwe, Hobart, Australia

Monday March 9th: v India, Hamilton, New Zealand

Sunday March 15th: v Pakistan, Adelaide, Australia.