'The guy called Mr Mistry': Who is mystery man ready to pump money into Ireland Cricket?

It would have remained a ‘mystery’ for longer had journalists taken John Mooney’s word. The Irish cricketer can only describe the the man behind the money that will be pumped into Ireland Cricket as ‘Mystery’.

Turns out it’s ‘Mistry’.

For those still wondering, Shapoorji Pallonji Group chairman Shapoor Mistry is the man we’re talking about. A  report in The Indian Express  states that the company is set to become an official partner of Cricket Ireland through a 10-year sponsorship deal which will boost the game in that country. In return, the Cricket Ireland Academy will now be named after the group.

Shapoor Mistry is the brother of Tata chairman Cyrus Mistry and their father Pallonji Mistry is an Irish citizen due to his marriage with Irishwoman Patsy.

Mooney is quoted in the report as saying: “Our academy is sponsored by Shapoorji Pallonji. There is this guy called Mr Mistry, and he lives in Ireland and I think it came about through that and he wants to help develop cricket within Ireland.”

Mistry believes that the deal is a symbol of his gratitude towards Ireland — a country where their family is at No 1 in the Fortune wealth list.

The academy will certainly help Ireland in their fight to be recognised as a better team than they are projected to be — a quest that their skipper William Porterfield has repeatedly mentioned during the ongoing World Cup.

“The development of the academy will help Irish cricket create a pipeline of world class cricketers,” a statement from Mistry said on the Irish cricket board’s website.

Star all-rounder Kevin O’Brien seems to have found another reason for the recent development — after his experiences at the World Cup in India in 2011. He is quoted in the report as saying: “I know that Indian people support the Irish cricket team, it’s because the way we have played in the last eight years. We are the second most-supported team in India. It is a great thing to be a part of.”

Ireland may have lost their match against India on Tuesday, but they’ve certainly got the millions off the Mistrys. And the next time you here an Irishman talk about a mystery, you won’t be clueless.