Former West Indies bowler Michael Holding has called upon the International Cricket Committee to grant Ireland Test status.
The Irish continued their recent positive form at one-day international level yesterday by recording a four-wicket win over the Caribbean nation at the Cricket World Cup.
With that in mind and to prevent the European nation from losing more players like Eoin Morgan to neighbouring England, Holding has insisted that the time is right for Ireland to be accepted into the five-day game.
"Ireland need to be recognised now. It's about time. Otherwise they'll keep losing cricketers," BBC Sport quotes Holding as saying.
"If they continue to linger around the lower regions of world cricket they'll continue to lose good cricketers.
"Morgan left Ireland to play for England because he saw brighter prospects. England are a Test playing nation and are a world-renowned team."
Next Wednesday Ireland will take on the UAE in their second group encounter.
Liam Apicella
