EMMET RIORDAN ON CRICKET:PAKISTAN'S VICTORY over Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final at Lord's on Sunday transcended mere sporting barriers in terms of its impact. Here was a side left to ramble the outposts of the cricketing world searching for venues to play home games after the terrorist assault on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore at the start of March.

A side written off after their opening defeat to England at the start of the tournament bounced back in spectacular style to see off Kumar Sangakkara’s side and make up for their defeat to India in the inaugural event two years ago.

And to hear skipper Younis Khan dedicate the victory to former coach Bob Woolmer, who died tragically the night after Ireland put Pakistan out of the 2007 World Cup, was particularly poignant.

With no side willing to travel to Pakistan due to the security threat and the International Cricket Council (ICC) having removed them from the host nations for the 2011 World Cup, Khan also called on the cricketing world to return to playing in Pakistan for the sake of the future of the game in the country. Cricket Ireland have already entered initial talks about staging some of Pakistan’s home schedule, but they could also put their names at the top of the list once the Pakistan Cricket Board get the all-clear to resume home fixtures from the ICC.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons has called on the world governing body to increase the country’s exposure to the top teams, but his side may have to travel to get such opportunities. Of course safety of the players and team management is paramount, but Cricket Ireland should be sending out the message that once things are on a more secure footing in the country that they are ready to travel.

Pakistan also showed throughout the recent tournament that youth is no barrier when it comes to Twenty20 cricket, with 19-year-old opening batsmen Shahzaib Hasan and 17-year-old left-arm bowler Mohammed Amar both playing their part in the success.

With a playing population that vastly outnumbers the number on this island, Pakistan always have a steady steam of young talent ready to make the step up to the international stage.

Not that Ireland are too slack in that department, with 18-year-old Paul Stirling playing against Pakistan in the Super Eights stage of the tournament.

With the next World Twenty20 taking place in the Caribbean next spring and the qualification tournament coming up at the end of the summer, the Irish selectors should be scouring the land for young talent: a young Decker Curry who could tee off in the powerplay overs or a firebrand bowler with no fear of running in to take on the world’s best batsman.

There has been much talk about the return of the interprovincial series of matches that have long been missing from the calendar. It’s not too late this summer to organise one on a Twenty20 basis, with the proviso that those selected be available to play for Ireland. Who knows what kind of gems could be unearthed in “Ireland’s got Twenty20” talent, but it would certainly prove a worthwhile exercise.

Cricket Ireland must strive to organise more T20 internationals as the senior team have shown an incredible ability to soak up the lessons after just a few games.

Pakistan, on the other hand, are the world’s most successful side in the shortest form of the game, their victory over Sri Lanka making it 18 out of 24, an incredible 75 per cent success rate. It makes interesting reading put up against their Test record since the 2007 World Cup, a time in which they haven’t won any of the seven played.