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NI ministers bat away Casement questions at cricket

BBC Michelle O'Neill smiling holding a cricket bat and Emma Little-Pengelly beside her throwing up a cricket ball.BBC
The first and deputy first minister said Belfast hosting a cricket test match was a historic moment

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have attended the first cricket test match in Belfast.

But they batted away questions about Euro football matches being staged in the city in 2028.

Belfast is due to host up to five matches in the tournament at Casement Park in the west of the city.

The stadium is currently derelict and funding is not yet in place to rebuild it.

The staging of the inaugural cricket test match in Belfast has brought the hosting of sporting events into focus.

'I'm going to take that ball and I'm going to hit it'

Asked about the chances of Euro 2028 matches being held in Belfast, the DUP’s Ms Little-Pengelly said the issue “will have to work itself through”.

She added: “Today is a very positive day, our first ever test match here in Northern Ireland. I think it’s important for us to ensure that there’s positivity around all of that excellence in our sport.”

It was put to Ms Little-Pengelly that she had not given a direct answer and had, in cricketing parlance, tried to knock the question for six.

With a smile, she replied: “These processes are working themselves through – we heard that yesterday in the House of Commons – so I’m going to take that ball and I’m going to hit it… because of course that’s outside of my control.

“We have of course been pushing the Treasury for additional money for public services. We know that’s the challenge that we face.”

PA Kate Nicholl standing at the test match holding a Ireland Zimbabwe flyer PA
And there were more politicians there - Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl was also at the cricket test match

'Sport is the big unifier in our society'

Asked the same question about the chances of the Euros being held in Belfast, Ms O’Neill said: “I think it’s a huge opportunity not to be missed. I want to see that delivered here for the people.

“I look forward to getting some confirmation from this new Labour government in terms of next steps and what they intend to put on the table in terms of a financial contribution.”

The first and deputy first minister both said the hosting of a cricket test match in Belfast was an historic moment for the city.

Ms O’Neill said: “Sport is the big unifier in our society across all sports and codes.”

The late Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin was a cricket fan, as was the late John Hume, the former SDLP leader, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998.

Ms O’Neill said “Martin was an avid supporter. People have all sorts of different interests in life.

“For Martin, cricket was one of those things alongside Gaelic football and hurling and everything else that he followed.”

Getty Images Barry McCarthy of Ireland bowling during day one of the Test Match between Ireland and Zimbabwe at Stormont in Belfast.Getty Images
Ireland have never won a test match on home soil

Ireland first played cricket in 1855 in Dublin but, until now, had never played a test match in Belfast.

Test cricket is the gold standard of the sport, taking place over five days, and is only played by 12 countries.

Ireland began playing test matches in 2018 but have never won on home soil.

Ireland are ranked 11th in the world test rankings, with Zimbabwe one place ahead.

The two sides have never met previously in a test match.