WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Matt Mason has rejected an offer to be part of Ireland's 2007 World Cup squad.
Australian-born Mason has just completed a successful first full season at New Road, taking 53 first-class wickets and finishing seventh in the national averages.
Mason is eligible to play for Ireland -- his father's homeland -- and owns a European Union passport which allows Worcestershire to register him as a non-overseas player.
But the 100-day qualification period in which he would have to live in Ireland, on top of Worcestershire's demands, was a key factor in him turning down the opportunity.
Mason said: "Ireland asked me to undertake a qualification period for the next World Cup but after discussing it with my family I've decided against taking that option.
"I'm already spending a lot of time away from home playing for Worcestershire. Ireland is not my country. I do have ties via my father but I always grew up wanting to play for Australia."
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