Ireland to welcome Australia A

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Ireland have agreed to host Australia’s A side in a four-day encounter at Stormont in Belfast from June 14 this summer.

Cricket Ireland also announced that Belfast would be the venue for their final two World Cup qualifiers against Scotland on September 6 and 8.

Ireland currently lead the way after four of seven rounds with Scotland second; the top-two nations earn a place in the 2015 World Cup.

Stormont will host a four-day match between Ireland and Australia A, as well as the hosts' remaining World Cup qualifiers

Those matches will finalise a busy summer for Ireland, who host Pakistan in Dublin in a two-match one-day international series in May before a one-off game against England in September.

CI revealed they are also in discussions to bring Bangladesh back following their tour last year.

“It's another incredibly important year for Irish cricket as we attempt to make it to the World Cup finals and also defend our ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers trophy in November,” coach Phil Simmons said.

“We've been to the final stages of five world tournaments and we want to make it seven.

“It's fantastic that we've got the high-profile matches on home soil against Pakistan and England and we hope to get another series against Bangladesh in August as well.”