South Africa are looking for suitable warm-up opponents ahead of the World Test Championship at Lord's in June.

Ireland are very much in the frame alongside Afghanistan as possible suitable opponents, as South Africa want valuable middle time ahead of their clash with Australia.

Indeed, given the opposition that Afghanistan are facing due to their failure to have a women's side, it would appear that Ireland are very much in the driving seat if they want to avail of it.

On the downside, given the growing political pressure in the UK and beyond to boycott Afghanistan cricket, it may not be too long before the Irish goverment adopts a similar stance making playing the Afghans in Ireland or the UK difficult.

Perhaps it's with this in mind that Ireland are yet again looking to the UAE as a base to play matches this year after playing a 'home' series there against South Africa in October.

There's also been talk this week of a possible two-tier Test Championship with Ireland to be included in the second tier.

However, it's still very much in the embroynic stage, with the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe pencilled in for the second division.

Much will depend on whether there is promotion/relegation built in, and of course, money....