Cricket

Ahead of their crucial clash against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Ireland coach Heinrich Malan expressed his concerns about the tournament's unpredictable nature. Ireland currently languishes at the bottom of Group A, having managed only one point from three matches. Their hopes of reaching the Super Eights have already been dashed.Malan admitted that the team's preparation has been hampered by a lack of training sessions since arriving in Florida. "We haven't trained at all since we've been down in Florida the last week," he said. "We've been having our unit meetings and preparation meetings, but we've had to rely on the plans we executed back home."Despite the challenges, Malan remains optimistic about his team's chances against Pakistan. "We played them a couple of weeks ago back home in Ireland," he said. "We can piggyback on that performance and hopefully do well again tomorrow."Malan also acknowledged the unusual nature of this World Cup. "It's been a pretty weird World Cup," he said. "We've tried to keep the lads busy as much as we can, but it's been a challenge from a preparation point of view."Despite their struggles, Ireland will be determined to end their tournament on a high note against Pakistan. They will need to produce a strong performance to avoid finishing bottom of their group.

Heinrich Malan, the head coach of the Ireland men's cricket team, has signed a two-year contract extension, extending his tenure until mid-2027. This decision aligns with Ireland's goal of qualifying for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa and Zimbabwe.Malan's appointment in January 2022 marked a significant shift for Ireland, as he became the first non-Irish coach to lead the national team. Under his guidance, Ireland has made notable strides, particularly in the T20 format. They have successfully qualified for the last two T20 World Cups and even defeated eventual champions England in the group stage of the 2022 edition.In February 2023, Ireland achieved a historic milestone by securing their first-ever Test victory against Afghanistan. This triumph showcased the team's growing competitiveness across all three formats of the game.Malan's extension comes at a crucial time for Ireland, as they prepare for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. He will work closely with captain Paul Stirling to lead the team in this prestigious tournament."I am delighted with the extension as it provides the squad and coaching staff a great deal more certainty as we build upon the foundations we have put in place over the last two years," said Malan. "We are now a three-format squad and - despite our smaller talent pool to draw from compared to other Full Members - we have been gradually building a sustainable structure that ensures we can continue to compete and improve on all three fronts."Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director of Cricket Ireland, praised Malan's contributions to the team's development. "Over the last 18 months or so, the team has improved significantly in the T20 format which was our weakest format," said Holdsworth. "His research into what world-class looks like, and the data he has gathered around the T20 format globally, has led to the production of a blueprint for the Ireland Men's team."Ireland's players recently secured revised central contracts, including pay raises, after negotiations. This demonstrates the growing recognition of the team's achievements and the commitment to supporting their development.As Ireland embarks on the next phase of their cricketing journey, Malan's leadership and strategic planning will be crucial in guiding them towards their goal of qualifying for the 2027 ODI World Cup.