ICC should now be considering frequent ODIs for Ireland against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh than against Kenya or Netherlands,Ireland is truly head and shoulders above other associate teams.

Were 10th it seems so silly Ireland are not in the Champions Trophy

@Darren: Champions Trophy is limited to the top 8 sides. I think Ireland has a way to go before reaching that point...

ICC FTP should be organised in such a way that Bangladesh and Zimbabwe play more games against Ireland and other Associates with ODI status. This will help the Associate members to raise their game.
I feel all the Full members ranked below 6(7 and below) at the beginning of the season should play only atleast once, in one season, against the associate nations with ODI status.

ICC really need to look at giving Ireland, Kenya, Canada and Afghanistan a larger role in global cricket. They all come from different areas of the globe, and represent areas of potential growth of the game. With 2020 looking like it will increase the games marketability, we also need to look after tradition, and it would be great to capitalise on new fans following these sides by giving them headlining fixtures against top teams.

I would love to see every team touring England playing a 3 match ODI series, and a one-match first class game against Ireland. These 4 teams are prime for development, and playing each other doesn't improve them fast enough.

The last time Ireland played Zimbabwe they where crushed, I dont think they have beaten Zim besides drawing with them, and I doubt if they are slighlty better than Zim granted they are a competitive team.

I agree with Dan & Vikram's comments. I think there should be a 2 tier relegation test/ODI/T20 cricket system with top&bottom of tiers moving up/down every 2 years.

Until then, I think all warm up matches for a series should be played against top Associate teams in region instead of against county/state sides.

EG: 5 tests & 7 ODI Aust vs Eng in Eng could have been:
* 4 day warm up Aust vs Ireland and Eng vs Scotland/Holland, both in England.
* 4 day warm up Aust vs Scotland/Holland and Eng vs Ireland, both in England.
* 5 tests Aust vs Eng.
* Warm up ODI's against Ireland, Scotland/Holland.
* 7 ODI's Aust vs Eng.

Similar could occur in other areas, such as in WI (Canada&USA), SA (Kenya), Aust/NZ (PNG&FIJI) ... etc.

This would give associate teams the incentive to be the best in their region to get this lucritive prize.

I agree with dan. In football FIFA gives massive assistance to developing countries. In an idea world South Africa should kenya, englansd help Ireland and West Indies help canada, without any extra funding. They can do it easily through providing extra competition/fixtures and junior coaching development, and it would be at little exspense. Unfortunately their is not enough good charity around and every man for himself. And as for the west indies, they are in no position to assist anyone untilthey sort out their own problems.

well Zimbabwe is way ahead of all the associate countries. Its even better than Bangladesh and is competative againest the major nations. This is evidenced with their recent perfomance againest Sri Lanka. Watch their series againest bangladesh coming up. The problem is the bigger nations dont want to play Zimbabwe because of "political Issues", this has denied the yuong boys the much needed game time againest the so called big guns

I don't think Zimbabwe is better than Bangladesh.Though Bangladesh is not doing extremely well but they have proven that they have good players such as Ashraful and Shakib.Still I believe Ireland also not better than Zimbabwe.The Ranking is not always telling the truth.Zimbabwe is much better than Ireland though they are not good enough side to compete with Smaller Test playing nation like Bangladesh.

I agree with Tashmeem, Zim are below Bangladesh by quite a margin. It's evidenced clearly from the ongoing series in Zim so far.

In respons to bravery's comments. Even a BANGLADESH 2nd string side will thrash Zimbabwe. The BANGLADESH side that thrashed Zimbabwe in the recent siries was without key players such as Nafees, Aftab, Kapali, Mortaza, Razzak, Rubel, Nazmul and Reza

So in the recent Zimbabwe siries it was a depleted BANGLADESH side. Even a depleted BANGLADESHI team thrashed Zimbabwe. So BANGLADESH and Zimbabwe no match. A full strenght Bangladesh team have the ability to beat any team in the world

Apologize for my bad english, I deliberate on its a nice vent one's spleen of your writing. Well I have faced alot of difficulties in this form but your article discretion definately escape me in future. Offer You