Pak to play one-day series against Ireland

After their campaign in the ongoing World Cup, Pakistan will face International Cricket Council Associate member Ireland in a two-match ODI series in the latter's backyard in May.

After their campaign in the ongoing World Cup, Pakistan will face International Cricket Council Associate member Ireland in a two-match ODI series in the latter's backyard in May.

The ties would be held at Stormont, Belfast, on May 27 and 29. Pakistan would get their chance to avenge the shock defeat to the Irish in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies that resulted in the former champions' early elimination from that edition.

Cricket Ireland chief executive, Warren Deutrom, welcomed the games as a vehicle to give the team regular engagements against the world's top outfits. "Following our recent World Cup campaign, the need to play the world's best teams on a more regular basis has become more pressing than ever to give us the experience to continue to compete at the highest level," Deutrom said.

Kochi Tuskers' camp begins
Kochi: Eleven players of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK), which will make its Indian Premier League debut this season, slugged out in a training camp under the watchful eyes of Australian coach Geoff Lawson.

Among those who took part in the camp were RP Singh, Ravidra Jadeja, Ramesh Powar and Vinay Kumar. VVS Lakshman and Parthiv Patel, who are also in the team, will join later. The team's seven players, including captain Mahela Jayawardene, S Sreesanth, Brendon McCullum and Muttiah Muralitharan, are representing various teams in the ongoing World Cup.