Ireland fumes at ICC for no 'road map'

London: The International Cricket Council has drawn flak from a frustrated Ireland, one of its top associate members, for not providing them with a "road map" to reach higher echelons of the game after having repeatedly proven themselves.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom feels the team has reached a cul de sac as they are still languishing as an associate member and not among the top nations despite making the second stage of the 2007 ODI World Cup in the West Indies after defeating Pakistan and other achievements.

"What is the point of Associate cricket? Ireland has proved itself head and shoulders above the rest of the Associate nations, winning all the available titles in every form of the game, four-day, 50-over and Twenty20," Deutrom said.

"Yet we are bumping up against a glass ceiling. What does the ICC want us to do? How do we get from high-performance programme to the higher echelons of the world game? There is no road map for us," he was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

The former ICC and England and Wales Cricket Board executive also did not see Ireland's promotion to upper level in the near future.

"We are not saying that Ireland deserves to be a Test nation tomorrow but what steps do we need to take to get there?" Deutrom asked.

Ireland have won the Intercontinental Cup, a four-day eight-team tournament for sides below Test level, thrice in a row.

"What is the point. There is no prize money, no competitive incentive at the end of it, such as the chance to play a Test match or a multi-day match against a full member. We win a tin cup but nothing else." he fumed.