Red carpet for the Irish

Dublin: Ireland’s giant-killing cricket team has arrived home from the World Cup to a heroes’ welcome, a diary full of celebrations and hints that a new international cricket ground may be built in Dublin.

The World Cup debutants were expected to play three group games but after a shock win against former champions Pakistan, they pushed through to the second round to beat Test side Bangladesh, leapfrogging to 10th in the one-day world rankings.

“It’s been a dream come true,” said captain Trent Johnston as he and his team made their way through several hundred cheering well-wishers at Dublin airport on Tuesday night after flying back from the West Indies. Among those waiting to congratulate the side, whose success ignited national pride in a sport largely forgotten in Ireland, was Irish sports minister John ’Donoghue, who described their efforts as “Herculean”.

Lanka President for final

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse will fly to Barbados to cheer the national team in the World Cup final later this week, a senior aide said on Wednesday.

“It is almost certain that the President will leave on Thursday at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Barbados,” said Chandrapala Liyanage, a senior Presidential aide. “The President’s visit is to mark the appreciation of the efforts of the cricketers in reaching the final,” Liyanage said.