Ireland's Test match against Zimbabwe, pencilled in for Stormont in late July, is reportedly being scrapped as the beleaguered Board are yet again struggling with their finances.

Cricket Ireland had originally prioritised the Test match over a planned home series against Australia, but it now appears that neither will be proceeding this year.

Ireland had hoped that ICC would agree to release funding that had been held back from their allocation, but were unable to persuade the governing body at the ICC meeting last week in Dubai.

If confirmed, it would be another major embarrasment for Ireland, who this week saw Cricket Scotland launch their own franchise tournament after yet another postponement of the cursed Euroslam.

Scotland also appear to have taken advantage of Ireland's woes by hosting Australia this summer.

Questions are bound to be asked why the Associate Member is able to do all this despite receiving a fraction of the funding made to Ireland.

Player contracts costs, allied to the huge costs of staging games in Dublin has severely impacted on Cricket Ireland's budgets.

Indeed, they have found it is cheaper to host their white-ball series' with South Africa in the UAE this September and October.

Quite what that does to help 'make cricket mainstream' and 'create a cricketing island' is something of a puzzle.

As it stands, the only senior men's matches due to be held in Ireland this year are a home T20I series against Pakistan, and white-ball series against Zimbabwe.

The farcical delays in releasing fixtures this year suggests that Ireland are desperately trying to find a solution that will appease all.