Ireland has decided to cancel its scheduled home series against Afghanistan this year, citing financial reasons rather than political concerns. The decision comes amid a packed summer schedule featuring historic tours by England Men’s T20I team and Zimbabwe Women.
Busy Season for Ireland Cricket
Cricket Ireland unveiled its international fixtures on Tuesday, including the Women’s 50-over World Cup Qualifiers, where Ireland will face Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Scotland from April 9-18. The women’s team will also play warm-up matches against West Indies and Bangladesh in Pakistan on April 5 and 7.
For the men’s team, Ireland will host West Indies in ODI and T20I series in May and June, followed by a three-match T20I series against England in September, marking England’s first-ever T20I series in Ireland.
Afghanistan Series Called Off
According to the Men’s Future Tours Program (FTP), Ireland was set to play a Test match, three ODIs, and three T20Is against Afghanistan. However, all seven matches have been scrapped due to budgetary constraints.
Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland, clarified that the decision was purely financial and not related to Afghanistan’s political situation, despite recent calls from Human Rights Watch to suspend Afghanistan’s ICC membership over human rights concerns.
“This decision is part of our management of short-term budgetary constraints,” Deutrom explained. “We are also required to balance investment across the organisation’s strategic objectives.”
Ireland’s Growing Cricket Infrastructure
Since attaining Full Member status in 2017, Ireland has played 10 Test matches but hosted only two due to financial and infrastructural challenges. The team recorded its first-ever Test victory against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2024, followed by two more wins against Zimbabwe—one at home and one away.
Last year, Ireland played a “home” series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi due to the high costs of temporary infrastructure. However, plans are underway to change that. In August 2024, the Irish government approved a project to develop a permanent international cricket stadium in Dublin. The first phase, featuring a main oval, seating for 4,000 people, and a high-performance center, is set for completion by 2028. This project aims to help Ireland prepare for co-hosting the 2030 T20 World Cup alongside England and Scotland.
“Off the field, recent government announcements will allow us to continue our stadium planning and prepare for the 2030 T20 World Cup,” Deutrom added.
Ireland’s Alternative Fixtures
Despite the cancellation, Ireland’s cricketing calendar remains packed. The Ireland Wolves will play Afghanistan A in four-day and one-day matches in Abu Dhabi next month, along with a white-ball tri-series featuring Sri Lanka A.
Additionally, Ireland Men will participate in the European T20 Premier League alongside Scotland and the Netherlands in mid-July.
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