There could be good news on the horizon for Irish cricket after the Sunday Times reported that the proposed new stadium at Abbotstown has moved a step forward.

Politcal journalist Sharon McGowan reported that Irish Sports Minister Catherine Martin had written to Sport Ireland telling them to "push forward" with the plans for a new stadium.

Ireland are due to be joint-hosts of the 2030 T20 World Cup with England and Scotland, and it's hoped that it could be ready in time for that.

In November, then Sports Minister Jack Chambers indicated that a business case would have to be made for the development of a cricket stadium, while plans for a new velodrome and badminton centre were given priority.

However, a change of government has seen a shift an according to the paper, a letter from Sports Minister Catherine Martin and Junior Minister Thomas Byrne said: "We wish to confirm that we are agreeable to Sport Ireland commencing the procedures required under the public spending code to allow us to consider a proposal for the development of a pemanent home for Irish cricket at the Sport Ireland campus."

There's no doubt there will be many hurdles to overcome before the stadium is built, but this seems a welcome move on a project that has made little progress despite five years of lobbying by the cricket fraternity.