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The World Cup is nearly here, but not quite, and the IPL is nearly done, but not quite. In this in-between time comes an ODI tri-series of in-betweenish significance, with each team looking to take something different out of it.

Bangladesh have whisked Shakib Al Hasan away from Sunrisers Hyderabad and assembled their full World Cup squad, plus four others. For them, this is a chance to figure out their best combinations, and to acclimatise to the conditions in the British Isles, although whether early-May pitches in Dublin will remotely resemble the ICC-curated strips in England and Wales remains to be seen.

Ireland won't be at the World Cup, and will want to show everyone - like they did on Friday when they gave England a proper scare - that this is unfair on them.

West Indies, meanwhile, have allowed their star players to remain at the IPL, and their squad here only contains eight players who are part of their preliminary World Cup 15. Spots are theoretically still up for grabs before the final squads are inked in, and the likes of Sunil Ambris, Shane Dowrich and Roston Chase will strive to achieve the optimum balance between exuding team spirit from every pore and hoping for an injury to strike down a bigger name or two.

The last time West Indies met Ireland in an ODI, the stakes were high: a chance to take two crucial points to the Super Six of the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. Ireland had West Indies down to 83 for 5 and then 169 for 6, but a century from Rovman Powell ultimately lifted them to a match-winning 257. Much like in Friday's game against England, Ireland showed they had enough quality to inflict serious damage on more fancied opponents, but not perhaps the depth of resources to seize the advantage fully. Can they show a little more bite this time, against a less-than-full-strength West Indies?

Form guide

Ireland LWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies WLWLL

In the spotlight

With Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer still at the IPL, West Indies' top order is perhaps their weakest suit in this tri-series. Ireland will have their best chance of putting them under real pressure if Tim Murtagh and Boyd Rankin can make a few early breakthroughs.

If he features, as he should, Shai Hope will be making his 50th ODI appearance. His numbers so far - an average of 45.56, a strike rate of 72.38 - suggest he's still searching for that extra gear to become a truly elite 50-overs batsman. If he can find some form in this tri-series and carry it into the World Cup, he could just make that step-up at the perfect moment.

Team news

There isn't much reason for Ireland to make any changes to the XI that competed so strongly against England at the same venue.

Ireland (possible): 1 William Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Andy Balbirnie, 4 Lorcan Tucker, 5 Kevin O'Brien, 6 Gary Wilson (wk), 7 George Dockrell, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Tim Murtagh, 10 Josh Little, 11 Boyd Rankin

Given that seam-friendly conditions are expected, West Indies are likely to go in with only one frontline spinner in Ashley Nurse, and three fast bowlers plus Jason Holder in the allrounder's slot at No. 7.

West Indies (possible): 1 John Campbell, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Jonathan Carter, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Sunil Ambris, 7 Jason Holder, 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Sheldon Cottrell, 11 Shannon Gabriel

Pitch and conditions

Rain reduced Friday's ODI to a 45-overs-a-side contest, but Sunday's forecast does not suggest a high chance of showers. The pitch can be expected to favour seam bowling once again.

Stats and trivia

• Ireland have beaten West Indies only once in six completed meetings. This was at the 2015 World Cup, where fifties from Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien helped Ireland chase down a target of 305.

• Ireland have hosted two ODIs against West Indies. Both matches - in Dublin in 2007 and in Belfast ten years later - were washed out by rain.

• Gary Wilson needs 18 runs to become the sixth Irish batsman to score 2000 ODI runs.

• Apart from being on the cusp of playing his 50th ODI, Shai Hope is three catches away from 50 as a wicketkeeper in ODIs.

Brilliant piece of wicketkeeping or pushing the Laws of the game? Ben Foakes' stumping of Andy Balbirnie in Friday's ODI between Ireland and England left many praising his smart glovework, but Ireland's captain, William Porterfield, was less impressed and afterwards suggested the ball was "pretty much dead".

The issue of a wicketkeeper waiting behind the stumps for the merest hint of a batsman lifting his foot is not quite as contentious as running out a batsman backing up - and Porterfield declined to make a comparison with Mankad dismissals - but similar questions were asked in some quarters about the legitimacy of such stumpings by stealth.

Porterfield was more concerned about the tactic delaying play, if wicketkeepers regularly sought to wait for a batsman to accidentally leave his ground, and suggested games could end up lasting "15 hours" .

"You can say it was great wicketkeeping or you can say it's a bit of a grey area of 'when is the ball dead?'" Porterfield said. "The ball was pretty much dead. The batsman wasn't going anywhere or over-balanced. The keeper has waited for three or four seconds. If we do that all day, it's going be a pretty long game. How long do you wait? We'll be playing 15-hour games if you wait that long."

Seeing lots of admiration for Foakes' keeping after that stumping. Not the first time too.

And it's almost exactly what Stewart did to Lara 22 years ago. Just hope the spirit of mother cricket's watching all of it. pic.twitter.com/fOhqZyPSrc

— Srinath (@srinathsripath) May 3, 2019

On the subject of whether it was similar to Mankading a batsman at the non-striker's end - recently (and controversially) employed by R Ashwin when running out Jos Buttler in the IPL - Porterfield suggested this was a different matter.

"He [Balbirnie] was probably more unhappy that he did lift his foot a little bit as he wasn't going anywhere or trying to do anything," he said. "The ball is pretty much dead like. On another day, that ball is probably [thrown by Foakes] into the covers."

Foakes himself saw the dismissal as simply going about his normal business. "When it's a sweep you think they might fall over and I just saw he lifted his foot and nicked [the bails] off," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Israel Folau has given evidence on the first day of a hearing into his sacking by Rugby Australia for a social media post saying "hell awaits" gay people.

Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika also gave evidence on Saturday.

The hearing into the sacking of the 30-year-old wing is being held in Sydney in front of a three-member panel. No decision is expected before Monday.

Rugby Australia said it did not expect further witnesses on Sunday.

Folau, who signed a four-year deal with Sydney-based Super Rugby side the Waratahs in March and had a contract with Rugby Australia until 2022, escaped punishment for similar comments last year.

He requested a code of conduct hearing after his dismissal.

Cheika has said Folau, who won 73 caps and was expected to play at this year's World Cup, was unlikely to be selected again.

In addition to his rugby union career, Folau has also played professional rugby league and Australian rules football.

In April, Australian rugby league's governing body ruled out Folau returning to the NRL.

ANDERSON, Ind. – A healthy crop of 15 Must See Racing Sprint Car Series drivers and teams officially got the 2019 season underway with open practice on Friday night at Indiana’s Anderson Speedway.

The group in attendance accounted for two-thirds of the expected entries for Saturday’s Must See Racing 50 at the high-banked, quarter-mile bullring, with three rounds of practice fully completed.

While no official times were taken during the evening, veterans and rookies alike got a chance to shake down their machines and get a feel for the race track ahead of the season-opening event.

Among the returning stars looking to get a head start on the competition was Lorain, Ohio’s Charlie Schultz, a former Midwest Supermodified Ass’n champion who finished third in points last season and is entering his third full-time season with Must See Racing this year.

On the unofficial stopwatch, Schultz was among the top-three quickest cars on Friday. He’s hoping to build on his Anderson run from a year ago, when he finished fourth after a top-five qualifying effort.

“The car felt really good,” said Schultz. “We made some changes over the winter and updated a few things, and went off what we had from here last year for our notes and baseline (setup). That was where we started off at here, and I think right out of the trailer we were pretty good.

“I can’t say we’re out of the ballpark for tomorrow; I think we’re in good shape.”

Four-time defending series champion Jimmy McCune was keeping his cards close to the vest Friday, not wanting to give anything away at a track where he’s won five times before in Must See Racing action.

“We just went out to shake everything down and make sure we actually had brakes this time,” McCune noted. “All in all, we’ve got our car in working order and we know what we need to get it fast, so we’re looking for a good day tomorrow to get our run at another championship off to a solid start.”

On the flip side of the coin, two rookies taking their first laps at Anderson in winged asphalt sprint car competition Friday afternoon were 16-year-old Trey Osborne and 14-year-old Brenden Torok.

Osborne showed out strongly in veteran car owner Mike Blake’s No. 81 entry, getting up to speed quickly around the same track at which he’s earned three wins in Kenyon Midget Series competition.

“The Kenyon car compared to this was a different world,” Osborne explained. “When you turn in the corner with this thing, it just sets (down) and hooks. It’s a lot different than the Kenyon car, which you’re muscling around a good bit. … Mike has this car set up well, though. I’m not having to work it too hard.”

Torok nearly didn’t make it to the race track this weekend, but with some hauling assistance from John Reiser, was able to make his first laps in the Dave Koyan-owned No. 99t on Friday afternoon.

“I’m just glad to be here; today was so much fun,” Torok noted. “I can’t say thank you enough to John, Charlie (Schultz) and the whole JR Motorsports team for helping to get our car here this weekend. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to do this deal. It was a solid afternoon, I feel like, and I kept learning every time I got out on the track. The last session, I really felt like we got the handle figured out.

“Saturday is about keeping the car in one piece and not trying to take more than the car and the track are willing to give us, but I feel good about things. This place is tight, but it’s a lot of fun to drive.”

Also taking laps on Friday were Anthony McCune, Tom Jewell, Brian Vaughan, Todd McQuillen, Jerry Caryer, Joe Liguori, Tyler Roahrig, Jeff Bloom and Tony Grams.

Anthony Linkenhoker and Rick Holley were at the track on Friday, but didn’t arrive in time to turn laps during one of the three practice sessions held throughout the evening. Both veterans plan to compete during Saturday’s racing program, however.

COMMERCE, Ga. – Defending NHRA Funny Car champion J.R. Todd raced to the provisional qualifying lead on Friday at the 39th annual Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

Brittany Force (Top Fuel) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the seventh of 24 events during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Todd raced his DHL Toyota Camry to the top spot in Funny Car with his pass of 3.944 seconds at 323.50 mph on Friday. After picking up his first win of the season in Houston, Todd is now going for his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 11th in his career. If his time holds up, Todd would also give the Kalitta Motorsports its 100th No. 1 qualifier.

“This gives me a lot of confidence, but I know going into a race that I have a great team behind me and they can adapt to any condition,” Todd said. “It was tricky and I had my hands full down track. We were lucky to hang on and I think we just hit it right.”

Force, who already has two No. 1 qualifiers this season in her Advance Auto Parts dragster, currently sits atop the Top Fuel field after rocket to a 3.720-second pass at 319.52 mph. She is seeking her 13th No. 1 qualifier this weekend, as well as her first win at Atlanta Dragway.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, points leader Hines went 6.856 seconds at 195.82 mph to go to the No. 1 spot on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Hines, who picked up his 50th career win last weekend, is after his second No. 1 qualifier of the year and 44th in his career.

Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic has told ESPN FC there has been "no contact" with Real Madrid over the transfer of Luka Jovic.

Reports in Spain from AS had claimed that the two clubs had agreed a €60 million fee to take the Serbia international to the Bernabeu when the transfer window opens in the summer.

It would mark a huge profit for the Bundesliga side, who only last month exercised their option to sign the player permanently from Benfica for around €7m following a two-year loan.

Jovic, 21, has scored 26 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions for Frankfurt this season and has been on Madrid's radar for some time. But reports that negotiations are at an advanced stage have been rubbished by Bobic.

"There has been no contact with Real Madrid," Bobic told ESPN FC. "For once, I don't have to use a white lie, they really haven't been in touch yet. I know them very well."

Madrid representatives may already have been in contract with Jovic's agents, but there is no deal on the table until Madrid make their first moves to negotiate a fee.

Benfica will be due 20 percent of any transfer fee, and Frankfurt may look for more than the reported €60m to take full advantage of Real Madrid as Zinedine Zidane looks to completely reshape his squad.

Jovic scored Frankfurt's goal as they drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the first leg of the Europa League semifinal on Thursday, while his club are in pole position to secure a first-ever Champions League campaign as they sit fourth in the Bundesliga.

England and India are firm favourites going into the 2019 World Cup, according to Yuvraj Singh, Player of the Series in the 2011 edition of the tournament.

Speaking at a promotional event on Saturday, Yuvraj also included Australia among his favourites.

"My first two teams are England and India," Yuvraj said. "Obviously with [David] Warner and [Steven] Smith coming back [from their ball-tampering bans], Australia will be in contention. West Indies also looked a very power-packed side. You can't say much at this stage. I think it would be India and England first, third would be Australia. Fourth I don't know. I will tell you later…"

Yuvraj, who last played an ODI in June 2017, said Hardik Pandya could make a big impact for India, given the form he carries into the World Cup from the IPL.

"I was actually having this conversation with him yesterday where I told him that "you have a great chance of performing really well with the ball and bat," the kind of form he is in at the moment.

"Definitely, the way he is batting at the moment, it is phenomenal and I hope he carries that form (into the World Cup). He has been bowling well in patches but as I said it is all about how you handle the pressure... I just hope that Hardik has an awesome tournament, the way he is batting at the moment."

Among the positive signs Yuvraj sees in Pandya's batting is his big hitting against quality bowlers.

"He got 91 from 34 balls against KKR, probably that is the best innings I have seen in the IPL just because he hit four quality bowlers he was batting against," Yuvraj said. "When you are doing that, you know that someone is batting very well."

Yuvraj is enthused by the form of India's batsmen, but he cautioned that T20 form cannot be a guarantee of ODI form.

"See you can't really compare T20 form with 50-overs. In T20 you don't have the time and you have to start going and hitting fours and sixes and it's a different ball game," Yuvraj said. "In 50 overs you have a lot of time (to get) set and start going, you can't really assess 20-overs form for 50 overs.

"MS [Dhoni] is in good form, Rohit [Sharma] is hitting ball well so is Virat [Kohli], Shikhar [Dhawan]. If you look at 90 per cent of the guys they are in good form.

"At No 6, Kedar [Jadhav], you get less opportunity to show your form so I'm pretty happy with the way all the guys are playing."

The 2019 World Cup begins on May 30 with England facing South Africa at The Oval. India's campaign begins against South Africa on July 5.

The South African Cricketers Association (SACA) has threatened legal action against Cricket South Africa (CSA) over alleged breaches of agreement related to CSA's decision to radically restructure domestic cricket.

From 2021, CSA is planning to scrap the franchise system, reverting to the provincial model in domestic cricket as part of austerity measures designed to offset projected losses of R 654 million (USD 45 million approx) over the next four years. But SACA has repeatedly expressed concerns over the plan, insisting that it had not been properly consulted or given the relevant financial information regarding the challenges CSA is facing.

SACA, through its lawyers, addressed a letter to CSA on Friday detailing its grievances, with SACA saying its concerns over the restructuring exercise "have simply been ignored by CSA".

ALSO READ: Explainer on CSA's austerity measures

"We reiterate our concerns around the financial position and around a decision, which has significant consequences both for the game and the players, taken without regard to our agreements and without following the consultation process specifically provided for in our Recognition Agreement," SACA president Omphile Ramela said.

"SACA cares about the financial sustainability of the game, and this is not only about what happens next year but also about the years to come. Our concerns relating to this have simply been ignored by CSA.

"We also care about ensuring the best possible domestic structure for the players and the game and believe that this should be the subject of proper consultation and agreement instead of there being a decision, which will have significant consequences, forced on us and the players."

SACA's statement marks the latest episode in a spat that has rumbled on since CSA announced the restructuring plan in early April.

The relationship between the two organisations hit a new low when SACA claimed that its chief executive Tony Irish had been barred from attending a meeting at which the changes to domestic cricket were discussed. While SACA's latest move has made clear its willingness to take legal action against CSA, Irish said the organisation is still open to engaging CSA on the relevant issues.

"Our lawyers have made it clear to CSA that its failure to comply with our agreements may well lead to legal action," Irish said. "At the same time, we are open to finding responsible solutions to the financial challenges facing cricket and to ensuring the best outcomes from a cricket point of view. We have invited CSA to engage in mediation on the issues. If CSA fails to comply and does not accept our invitation to mediate, SACA will be compelled to take the legal route."

A CSA spokesperson, meanwhile, told ESPNcricinfo it was "unfortunate that SACA chose to issue a press release as a means of communicating with CSA." The spokesperson added that no letter had yet been received as of Friday evening. "We have noted the same this Friday evening and will respond shortly."

Toss Rajasthan Royals chose to bat v Delhi Capitals

Rajasthan Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane has elected to bat first in a must-win match for his side to qualify for the IPL playoffs. Rahane takes over the reins again for the Royals after Steven Smith departed to return to Australia for a pre-World Cup preparation camp.

For Capitals, a win would move them into the top two on the IPL table where they would clinch an opportunity to have a direct path to the tournament final if Mumbai Indians lose their final match on Sunday against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer announced two changes in their XI, swapping out Chris Morris and J Suchith for Keemo Paul and Ishant Sharma. Royals have opted for extra spin to reinforce the decision to bat first as Ish Sodhi and K Gowtham came in for Smith and Jaydev Unadkat.

Delhi Capitals: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Colin Ingram, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Sherfane Rutherford, 8 Keemo Paul, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 Amit Mishra, 11 Trent Boult

Rajasthan Royals: 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Liam Livingstone, 3 Akinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Stuart Binny, 6 K Gowtham 7 Mahipal Lomror, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Varun Aaron, 10 Oshane Thomas, 11 Ish Sodhi