Ireland is set for the biggest cricket jamboree in its history when the ICC Trophy swings into action on Friday. It has been a logistical nightmare for official operations manager Richard Johnson and his crew at their downtown headquarters in Belfast's Europa Hotel.
In total 25 venues around the 32 counties will be catering for the 12 teams involved.
Forty-two games culminating in the final showdown in the shadow of Clontarf Castle in Dublin on 13 July.
Johnson, however, has been well-versed in the drama of putting all the pieces of a jig-saw together.
"With Ireland hosting the 4th European Championships in 2002 we had a bit of a head start," said Johnson. "But ever since we heard that we would be hosting the Trophy it has been all go.
"It is a massive job to undertake, but we feel we have everything in place. There were, though, a few problems mainly laundry. Yes, laundry, both physically and metaphorically speaking.
"Catering for 12 teams at the end of each day, collecting their gear, and having it delivered to their hotel first thing the next morning proved a big task.
 |  Players are not allowed to use personal mobile phones |
"But we have managed to set up a system with a dry-cleaning firm in Belfast volunteering to look after our needs.
"The biggest issue, though, is that all grounds have had to be stripped of ALL their advertisements. This tournament has been upgraded in that we are now playing to full World Cup rules.
"That means that all grounds must be "clean". At present, the ICC are undergoing a multi-million lawsuit with previous sponsors because of non-delivery of a contract.
"Obviously they do not wish to exacerbate that problem. We are continually getting calls about this and that and it should be removed or covered.
"We are also aware that there could be "ambush" marketing, so we have to keep sharp for that.
"The clubs themselves have been magnificent when you consider they have their own deals for sponsorship."
Johnson can also foresee another problem that may take a bit of detective work to prove.
"Players are not allowed to use personal mobile phones," said Johnson.
"All teams arrived here last Monday and from then on, they must abide by tournament rules.
"Only team mangers can use a mobile. The problem is we are suppose to police all that. It's all to do with anti-corruption laws.
"At each ground there is also an area marked out where no-one is allowed to encroach apart from the players.
"But no problem is insurmountable. We have come across harder tasks," said Johnson, who has left no stone unturned including the bus timetable.
"It has to be run like clockwork," said Johnson. "Transport manager Brian Milford and myself have everything off pat.
 Ireland's Joe Doherty with ICC's Malcolm Speed with the ICC Trophy |
"He goes to the bus station to make sure the coaches are on their way, and I stand at the hotel and chivvy out the teams and make sure they leave on time.
"There are six coaches sitting outside the hotel every morning," said Johnson, who has also to cater for different tastes.
"The food is basically in the hands of all the clubs involved," he said. "But we have also to be very aware of the needs of some of the teams.
"We only found out this week that there are two teams, the Emirates and Oman, who are completely vegetarian. We have also to provide special for others."
Johnson expects that the tournament will help Belfast get further on its feet.
"We have booked 250 rooms in four hotels for official purposes and there will also be supporters to take into account as well.
"I would say that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the City Council are delighted that local economy will benefit.
"We estimate that taking everything into perspective it could be worth nearly �1million to Belfast.
"We do not expect too many foreign supporters at the game, but Ireland matches we are hopeful of well over 1,000 at each of their games."
Group fixtures (Northern Ireland)
(All games start 1045 BST)
Friday, 1 July
Ireland v Bermuda (Stormont)
Denmark v Uganda (Muckamore)
United Arab Emirates v USA (Downpatrick)
Netherlands v Papua New Guinea (Osborne Park)
Scotland v Oman (Shaw's Bridge)
Namibia v Canada (Woodvale)
Saturday, 2 July
Ireland v Uganda (Comber)
Denmark v USA (Armagh)
United Arab Emirates v Bermuda (Lisburn)
Netherlands v Oman (Carrickfergus)
Scotland v Canada (Bangor)
Namibia v Papua New Guinea (Newforge)
Monday, 4 July
Ireland v United Arab Emirates (Stormont)
Denmark v Bermuda (Cliftonville)
Uganda v USA (Lurgan)
Netherlands v Namibia (Osborne Park)
Scotland v Papua New Guinea (Shaw's Bridge)
Oman v Canada (Muckamore)
Tuesday, 5 July
Ireland v USA (Waringstown)
Denmark v United Arab Emirates (Bangor)
Uganda v Bermuda (Comber)
Netherlands v Canada (Eglinton)
Scotland v Namibia (Limavady)
Oman v Papua New Guinea (Drummond)
Thursday, 7 July
Ireland v Denmark (Bangor)
Uganda v United Arab Emirates (Lurgan)
USA v Bermuda (Waringstown)
Netherlands v Scotland (Stormont)
Oman v Namibia (Comber)
Canada v Papua New Guinea (Downpatrick)
Semi-finals and finals (Dublin)
Saturday, 9 July semi-final 1:
1st Group A v 2nd Group B (Clontarf)
Semi-final 2:
2nd Group A v 1st Group B (The Hills)
Semi-final 3: 3rd Group A v 4th Group B (Malahide)
Semi-final 4: 4th Group A v 3rd Group B (North County)
Semi-final 5: 5th Group A v 6th Group B (Leinster)
Semi-final 6: 6th Group A v 5th Group B (Merrion)
Monday, 11 July 3rd-4th place:
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 (Malahide)
5th-6th place:
Winner SF3 v Winner SF4 (Clontarf)
7th-8th place:
Loser SF3 v Loser SF4 (The Hills)
9th-10th place:
Winner SF 5 v Winner SF6 (North County)
11th-12th place:
Loser SF5 v Loser SF6 (Rathmines)
Wednesday, 13 July Final:
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (Clontarf)
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Cricket interviews 
