Ireland's cricketing heroes have reacted with anger at the decision to exclude them from the 2015 ICC World Cup.
An International Cricket Council meeting on Monday decided that only the 10 Full Member countries would compete in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, compared to 14 in the 2011 version, with Associate Nations like Ireland given no chance of even qualifying for the next tournament.
Phil Simmons' men shocked the cricketing world when they beat England in the group stages of the 2011 World Cup, but the ICC decision means that there will be no chance to repeat those heroics Down Under.
A qualification process will take place for the 10-team event in England in 2019, but that will be too late for veterans such as 36-year-old Ireland fast bowler Trent Johnston, who tweeted: "The ICC have certainly made my decision to retire after the 2012 Twenty20 World Cup very easy, thanks for the memories. (It seems that) our plans to become a Full Member have been a source of humour around that elitist table"
Skipper William Porterfield accused the ICC of only being interested in the financial side of the game, rather than of promoting the game across the globe, and feels that opening up the Twenty20 World Cup in 2012 is a poor substitute for the Associate Nations.
"What an absolute disgrace, ten teams and no qualification," he told his Twitter followers.
"That's not even a World Cup ICC joke!!! Trying to compensate it with 16 teams in the T20... Is that because they make more money by having a few more teams in this format, by any chance?"
An emotional Gary Wilson, whose innings of 61 against the West Indies at Mohali in the World Cup almost brought Ireland to a second win over a Test nation and qualification to the quarter-finals, was furious at the decision.
"What is going on? Excuse the French but that is a s**t decision! Not a World Cup now, just a trophy with 10 teams. Heads up their own a**s."