It is understood that it took a high-level intervention by Malcolm Speed, chief executive of the International Cricket Council, to force the English to withdraw their claim to host the fixtures. Speed also reassured the Irish Cricket Union that, should Ireland be ejected from the nine-match county league, the ICC would ensure that Ireland would play other high-profile fixtures.

The row began during the World Cup when the ECB heard of the ICU's coup in getting an Indian TV station to stage the matches in Ireland.

Discussions took place at which the ECB insisted that they had jurisdiction over games in the United Kingdom . . . and were entitled to a slice of the TV and gate receipts, which could be 600,000.

The English board are concerned their monopoly on international cricket in the northern hemisphere could be affected. "There are only three games this year but they're worried if they go well there could be six or nine next year", said ICU secretary John Wright, who also confirmed that Ireland's ejection from the Friend's Provident was "a talking point" that "remains on the table".