Ireland chief selector Alan Lewis has said that seeing Dubliner Eoin Morgan become England's World Cup captain is a "wee bit irritating".
Morgan made his Ireland debut when he was 16 years old but switched allegiances to England. Seamer Boyd Rankin and batsman Ed Joyce also left the Irish setup after playing for the country previously, although Ed Joyce has since returned.
"I look at the England set up and over the last 10 years, three people from this little island where cricket is the fourth or fifth sport are playing for a country whose national sport is cricket," Lewis told Irish podcast The Slog Sweep.
"It is a wee bit irritating to think where we could be if Eoin and Boyd were available; obviously we've got Ed back now.
"I wouldn't want to deprive Eoin Morgan the opportunity with the ability he has, I'd want to play at the top level, and in honesty every Irish supporter would wish him well, it's a great story, but it's a great frustration. To get our players back, that's part of the next step."
Ireland have been drawn in Pool B alongside South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe and United Arab Emirates. They play their first match against West Indies on Monday.
Jonathan McIntosh
