Former ICC chief executive David Richardson was appointed to the Board of Cricket Ireland at the Annual General Meeting on Sunday.

Richardson replaces William Porterfield on the board with the former Ireland captain stepping down after getting a new coaching role at Lancashire.

Speaking afterwards to the Part-timer, CI chairman Brian MacNeice said that he was excited such a high-profile name in world cricket has taken on the voluntary role.

“In my opinion he is a significant asset to the organisation in teams of a board member who understands the inner workings of the ICC like nobody else does in a way that will help us navigate the politics of the ICC, the funding model, the opportunities that arise around that, the negotiating with the players and the collective aggrements that have been in place.”

Two other directors also joined the Board on Sunday, Liam Lynch, a chartered accountant with over 30 years experience is the other new independent director and former solicitor Sukhi Byrne, a graduate of Cricket Ireland’s ‘On The Front Foot’ women’s leadership programme, is the Munster Cricket’s nominee.

In a speech to the meeting, immediately following the Chief Financial Officer’s report, McNeice confirmed that the Australia series, in the Future Tours Programme for this year has only been “delayed”.

“While that is disappointing, we have to be responsible in our financial commitments and if we had gone ahead with the series at this time we would not have been able to give 20% extra funding to every Provincial Union and also fund a new development officer in each union,” he said.

“We now have certainty for the next financial cycle and are trying to optimise the hosting of matches.”

Although the home games against Australia are not taking place this summer, the Ireland Men’s team will still go to Abu Dhabi in September for two T20Is and three ODIs with the chairman confirming that with with no infrastructure in place at any of the existing international grounds, it is cheaper to host a series in the UAE.

MacNeice also said that Cricket Ireland are determined to be more open and transparent and will take roadshows around the country. They will continue to invest in Malahide and Stormont with “exciting plans” for the Belfast venue which hosts its first Test match this summer, a game which the chairman described as “significant milestone and historic occasion”.

The controversial agreement whereby two senior officers were driving Tesla cars was explained in depth. They were bought on HP and not owned. One has been given up. MacNeice stressed that no funding was diverted from other activities for the leasing of the cars.

CFO Andrew May told the meeting that last year’s deficit of €3.6million was turned into a €470k profit thanks to a $5m dollar loan from ICC. They have been promised $70m from ICC in the next four-year cycle, as opposed to $37 over the previous eight years.

TV broadcasters and sponsorship have also been secured up to 2027 and a Men’s team sponsor for 2024 is to be announced shortly.

The meeting ended with the traditional handover of the Staffordshire Mugs from outgoing president William Wilson to Stella Downes who takes over for the next 12 months. Donna Armstrong was also confirmed as vice-president.