Warren Deutrom says Ireland face a lot of work
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The International Cricket Council is to to review its membership structure following Ireland's application to become full members. The Irish are aiming to be the 11th full member nation and the first to step up from associate status since Bangladesh in 2000. It could eventually pave the way for Ireland to play at Test match level. On Thursday the ICC approved a three-stage process to be undertaken before considering Ireland's application. The ICC said the first step was to look at its categories of membership. Last November, when Ireland revealed their plans, Irish chief executive Warren Deutrom admitted they faced a lot of work to meet the criteria and that the process would take several years. Ireland are keen to reap the financial benefits which come through ICC full member status and getting on the future tours programme. However, their application was seen by many as something of a long shot. Among Ireland's impressive list of achievements in 2009 was their progress to the last eight of the World Twenty20, in which they knocked out Bangladesh. In recent seasons they have lost their two best batsmen, Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan, to England - something they might be able to avert by becoming a Test-playing nation.
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