Ireland's cricketers in tough World Cup group
Adrian Birrell's Ireland are to open their Group D account at the 2007 Cricket World Cup against Zimbabwe.
The Irish, aided by the presence of Middlesex star Ed Joyce, qualified for the West Indies-based tournament for the first time by reaching the ICC Trophy final earlier this month.
By losing the ICC decider to Scotland, Birrell's charges, ranked 13th of the 16 competing nations, were placed in Group D with Pakistan, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
They open against Zimbabwe on Thursday, March 15, then face a St Patrick's Day clash with Pakistan and wrap up the group stages against the West Indies on Friday, March 23.
Ireland will take part in two warm-up games in Trinidad prior to the World Cup's opening ceremony on Sunday, March 11 - against Pakistan (March 6) and Canada (March 8).
All Group D ties will be staged in Jamaica.
