Rankin books Caribbean ticket after overcoming injury

DUBLIN, Ireland, CMC – Ireland, who will face West Indies in the first round of next month’s World Twenty20 Championship, have included fit-again fast bowler Boyd Rankin in their 15-man squad announced yesterday for the Caribbean showpiece.

The 25-year-old, who has played 20 One-Day Internationals, had been sidelined by a foot injury which caused him to miss the T20 qualifying tournament in the United Arab Emirates last month.

Rankin was one of Ireland’s most successful bowlers in the last Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean when he picked up 12 wickets during their impressive campaign.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons said it was a given the Warwickshire pacer would have returned to the squad once he was back to full fitness.

“He was always going to come back for us once he was fit, so it’s an added bonus for us that he is,” the former West Indies all-rounder said.

“He seems all right. It is just about how much bowling he has managed to do on that tour with Warwickshire and how ready he is. We will find that out later this week.”

Ireland has been grouped along with West Indies and England in Group D of the April 30 to May 16 championship in Guyana.

They sprung a surprise in the 2009 edition of the tournament in England last year, when they finished second in Group A behind India to reach the second round where they lost all three games.

Ireland will be led by Will Porterfield and his squad will include the experienced trio of Trent Johnston and brothers Niall and Kevin O’Brien all of whom played in the CWC 2007.

Surrey reserve wicketkeeper Gary Wilson and teenaged batsman Paul Stirling have also been picked.

The squad is largely comprised of the players who helped Ireland finish as runners up to Afghanistan in the qualifying tournament in the UAE.

SQUAD – William Porterfield (captain), Andre Botha, Peter Connell, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, Gary Kidd, John Mooney, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Andrew White, Gary Wilson.