Ireland have been drawn with India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Thailand for next February’s World Cup Qualifiers in Sri Lanka; whilst Scotland will face South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea in the group stages.

The top 3 teams from the group stages go through to a “Super Sixes” where they play the qualifying teams from the other group, whilst the points from their group stage matches against the qualifying teams from their own group are carried-through – the top 4 sides after the Super Sixes will qualify for England 2017.

Ireland ought to be ambitious about their qualification prospects – wins against Sri Lanka in the group stages, and then Pakistan in the Super Sixes, ought to be a realistic aspiration which would put them “on the plane” to England.

It will be tougher for Scotland, but qualification certainly isn’t out of the question – if they can make it out of the group stages, anything is possible – an upset victory in the Super Sixes, and other results going their way… stranger things have happened 😉