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| April 26, 2007 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 08, 1428 |
Irish get heroes' welcome
DUBLIN, April 25: Ireland's giant-killing cricket team have arrived home from the World Cup to a heroes' welcome, a diary-full of celebrations and hints that a new international cricket ground may be built in Dublin.
The World Cup debutants were expected to play three group games but after a shock win against former champions Pakistan, they pushed through to the second round to beat test side Bangladesh, leapfrogging to 10th in the one-day world rankings.
“It's been a dream come true,” said captain Trent Johnston as he and his team made their way through several hundred cheering well-wishers at Dublin airport on Tuesday night after flying back from the West Indies.
Among those waiting to congratulate the side, whose success ignited national pride in a sport largely forgotten in Ireland, was Irish Sports Minister John O'Donoghue, who described their efforts as “Herculean”.
O'Donoghue said the government was keen to help development of the game in Ireland, where many have previously regarded it as a colonial hangover following the country's independence from Britain in 1921.
“The stage is set for cricket to expand participation levels in this country,” he told the Irish Times.
“We are lacking an international cricket ground – I'd be prepared to talk to the Irish Cricket Union (ICU) about providing one.”
On Wednesday evening, Johnston and his men will be feted by Bank of Ireland at a lavish shindig in Dublin's refurbished Shelbourne Hotel, and on Friday night they are due to appear on the state broadcaster's flagship chatshow.—Reuters
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