There was a double fixture boost for Irish cricket with the news that Ireland will play Hong Kong in two T20I's at Bready in September while Ireland Women will face Bangladesh in six home matches.

Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom also revealed that there would be more fixtures against Full Members announced tomorrow in Belfast.

He was speaking in Dublin as Ireland launched an ambitious five-year plan to become a mainstream sport, with the goal of taking the game to new audiences and beginning to rival the popularity of football, rugby and GAA by 2020.

Not content with grabbing the headlines every few years with stunning performances on the global stage - like beating Pakistan, England and the West Indies at the World Cup - cricket wants a permanent place in the consciousness of the Irish public.

"Our goal of playing Test matches by the end of 2020 needs to be broader and more ambitious – it needs to envision Ireland not just being a major force in cricket, but cricket being a major force in Ireland," said Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom.

"When we think of ‘major’ in Ireland, we think of GAA, rugby and football. Well, why not cricket too?," said Deutrom. "We need to shift perceptions of cricket as an elitist, exclusive sport to one that is open and accessible to ALL. We need to de-mystify the sport for the Irish public by making it visible, accessible, affordable and inspiring."

In his speech to assembled guests, Deutrom outlined the importance of club cricket to the success of the strategic plan, and announced a new scheme to help clubs grow in addition to the support currently provided by the governing body.

"The Cricket Ireland plan recognises clubs as the hub of the sport and places them at the centre of focus for grass-roots development, helping them benefit from the record number of participants at school and youth level currently enjoying the game. We are launching a club fund to assist the clubs with grants for equipment and facilities in addition to the practical support we provide already."

The fund will initially have 50,000 Euros.

The KPC Group were unveiled at the event as main team sponsor for the next three years as well as headline sponsor of the forthcoming home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and the prestigious Cricket Ireland Awards.

In further good news at the event, Irish sports company O'Neills are putting their shirts on further success for the Ireland cricket team by extending their sponsorship deal for a further four years to the end of the decade.

The Tyrone-based company has been the official kit supplier for Ireland since 2012, and their distinctive shirts were in evidence when The Boys in Green beat the West Indies at the 2015 World Cup and have been worn in three T20 World Cups.

The deal which runs until the end of 2019, will also see O'Neills renewing their sponsorship of the Ulster Cup, Shield and Plate competitions.