Chairman Brian McNeice said that the long-awaited European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is “on track” to begin on schedule on August 26, with six franchises confirmed. Indeed, he told the meeting he had a phone call with Steve Waugh, one of the owners of the Amsterdam franchise, “at eight o’clock this morning”. The games in Ireland will take place at Malahide and Clontarf.

There will be a further announcement about the tournament early next month with the Players’ Draft taking place at the end of the month. He also said the two Irish franchises (Belfast and Dublin) will make contributions to grassroots level.

Looking back at 2025, in his chairman’s report, among his many highlights were new winners of the All-Ireland Cups – Balbriggan, in their 40^th anniversary year, and Co Galway.

“The National Cup final between Galway and Kerry, was my favourite match of the year, underlining the development of the game throughout the country and my favourite day was the Cricket Connects in Stormont when 150 kids were playing multiple sports with cricket to the fore.”

He congratulated the Men’s and Women’s U19 squads in qualifying for their World Cup finals but admitted there was more work to be done to host men’s internationals although the volume of cricket, particularly over the forthcoming winter, is increasing.

In conclusion, he said thanks to Warren Deutrom, who “has left Cricket Ireland in a far better place than when he arrived”, interim CEO Ross McCollum and all the volunteers who are the lifeblood of the organisation.