Ireland heads to the ICC World Twenty20 2009 hoping to repeat its famous exploits at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, when it defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Captained by William Porterfield, who has built an excellent reputation in county cricket with Gloucestershire, the side qualified for the event after some solid performances on the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier on home soil.

Although rain ruined its opportunity to win the Qualifier event, as the final against Netherlands was abandoned without a ball being bowled, it was named the top Associate seed for the event on the basis of its Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Ranking.

However, it came close to being eliminated from the tournament after Bermuda failed to chase a target of only 46 in nine overs in the group stages of the qualifier.

Ireland missed out on the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 2007 event as it came fifth in the six-team qualifying event in Nairobi so it will be determined to have an impact on the event this time in a group which sees them face India and Bangladesh.

Ireland has only ever played India on one occasion, crashing to a nine-wicket ODI defeat in a rain affected match in June 2007, despite Niall O'Brien making a fifty.

Since overcoming Bangladesh at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, it suffered three heavy defeats fielding an under strength team in March 2008.