SRI LANKA WILL visit Dublin for two one-day internationals with Ireland later this year, it has been announced today.

The top team in the ICC T20 rankings have been confirmed as opponents at Clontarf on 6 & 8 May and it will be only the second time that the Sri Lankans will have played in Ireland.

“It’s great news for both the team and supporters,” said Ireland coach Phil Simmons told Cricket Ireland.

“Ireland need as many matches as possible against Full Member sides. It’s how we measure ourselves now in terms of our cricketing progress.

We’ll be gearing our preparation towards the 2015 World Cup, and this series is ideal. 2013 couldn’t have gone much better in terms of the fact that we won three trophies and continued our domination against our fellow Associates.

“We did however miss opportunities to claim victories against both Pakistan and England when in strong positions. We’ll be looking to take our cricket to the next level in 2014 by winning from these type of situations, pressing home our advantage when we’re on top.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our squad to face players of the calibre of Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Matthews, Tillakaratne Dilshan and of course Lasith Malinga. They’re going to be tough opposition but Irish conditions in May will be to our advantage.”

Ireland play in the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in March but first face the West Indies later this month.

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