KENT have abandoned plans to sign a loan wicketkeeper after Niall O’Brien’s decision not to play for Ireland in this month’s ICC Trophy qualifiers.

O’Brien, who starred in last season’s historic Irish win over the West Indies, had been asked to return to Belfast for the first week of trophy qualifiers.

The Irish Cricket Union even offered to subsidise Kent’s loan plan, but after eight weeks of soul searching O’Brien has opted to stick with county cricket.

"It’s the hardest decision I’ve had to make since I’ve been playing cricket," said the 23-year-old Dublin-born keeper.

"I explained to the Ireland players and they all understood. I’m only just starting out on my career in county cricket, I’d like to think my future is here and I feel I have to give first allegiance to Kent.

"This decision has been playing on my mind for a while now but if Kent did bring in a loan keeper on my account then whose to say he won’t come in and do really well? That might make it tricky for me to force my way back.

"As a keeper there’s only one position available and you don’t want to place it in doubt. When Geraint Jones is away I want to make this position my own to such an extent that when he is here he feels a little pressure from me as well."

O’Brien insists he will never say never should Ireland’s selectors come knocking again and he has not given up hope of representing them in the World Cup proper.

Yet his long-term ambitions rest with Kent and England.

"My dream is to qualify for England and, who knows, maybe play Test cricket one day, but as rules stand now I can still play for Ireland.

"I wouldn’t say my Ireland career is over by any means and, who knows, in two years' time, and if Ireland did qualify, no player would turn down an opportunity to play in such a prestige event.

"It’s every player's dream to do that, but I’m happy at Kent right now. I feel that batting has been going well and I’ve been working hard on my keeping."