As he prepares to take charge of Ireland for the first time in a five-game ODI series against Afghanistan starting on Wednesday, new head coach Gary Wilson has challenged the side to make their own World Cup history.
Ireland have not qualified for the 50-over competition since 2015 but, as they return to the format for the first time in 15 months this week, Wilson says his squad are “laser-focused” on making it to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia next autumn.
Wilson played in that tournament 11 years ago, and four years prior when the side famously toppled England in Bangalore (now Bengaluru), so knows well the impact such tournaments have in raising the side’s profile at home and abroad.
“We’re laser-focused on 50-over cricket right now for that reason,” said Wilson of World Cup qualification.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be part of two and they are amazing experiences.”
Ireland are 12th in the ODI rankings and, as part of a keenly debated new format, will take part in a 10-team qualifier next year for just one guaranteed berth at the 2027 World Cup.
Another three teams will advance to a so-called Super Series directly preceding the tournament to decide the final spot in the 12-team field.
Despite the precarious path to even make it back to a World Cup, Wilson does not want his players to limit their ambition to just taking part.
“Irish cricket is really in its infancy in many ways and there’s been a lot of firsts within the last 20 years,” he said.
“We’ve had Ed Joyce as the first player to play for England, we’ve had the first World Cup in 2007, we’ve had the first Test win, why can’t we go on and do something huge at a World Cup? If you’d said 30 or 40 years ago where the Irish rugby team would be now, you’d have got laughed at.
“Whether it’s in our lifetime or not, one day we will do something amazing. A challenge I’ve put to this group is to create their own firsts. I think if we just stay focused, there’s something big very close.”