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Cricket Ireland president Bryan O'Donnell believes Ireland's recent T20I series win over India has changed how the team is viewed around the world and could help them secure more matches against stronger opposition.
Ireland made history by beating India 2-0 in the T20I series in Belfast, registering their first-ever series win over the reigning T20 world champions in any format.
O'Donnell said the result will have an immediate impact on Irish cricket.
"Well, it's going to be fairly instantaneous because it is a huge lift for our players and on that basis, they will probably become available in other areas of the game."
"A huge amount of impact because it elevates the players. It lifts the potential performance of Irish cricket hugely," O'Donnell told PTI.
He believes the biggest change will be in how Ireland are seen by other teams. "I think we would be more acceptable as opposition than we may have been heretofore. So, you know, it is a moving elevation," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
"It is showing a return on the level of input that Cricket Ireland are willing to put into the game in this country with the help of the ICC and all of these people. At present, a large investment is going on into the infrastructure surrounding Irish cricket," he said.
O'Donnell also hopes the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL) will help Irish players improve.
"Absolutely. Providing the opposition is of a certain level, you know, it has to be beneficial and it is also opening potential for other income streams for the players in the higher echelons of the game."
He said the presence of former players such as Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid and R Ashwin in the league will give Irish cricketers an opportunity to learn.
"They will learn from observation. They will learn from meeting these legends and picking their brains and possibly pick up tips for the benefit of our players. They (Irish players) are very anxious to move with the game and have the game up to speed in this country.
"So, if that can carry forward to all the players, all the way down the line, then I think we're on a progress path," he said.
Indian-born fast bowler Jai Moondra played a major role in Ireland's series win over India. O'Donnell said Cricket Ireland will continue to welcome overseas-born players who qualify to represent the country.
"We're open to all talent providing they would qualify as such either through living in Ireland or through the relationship of grandparents or aunts and uncles, etc. as are required. Yes, we're an open book."
"We want to move on in world cricket. And if people turn up that are going to lift us, yes, certainly we're interested," he said.
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