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Ireland plans to host a multi-format series against Afghanistan this year, which has been postponed for "financial concerns" amid a packed summer schedule that includes historic tours by Zimbabwe Women and England Men's T20I team. The Women's 50-over World Cup qualifying matches against Pakistan, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Scotland between April 9 and 18 were among the international matches announced by Cricket Ireland on Tuesday.
Although the ICC has not yet confirmed dates and sites for the Qualifiers, it also included Ireland Women's warm-up matches against Bangladesh and the West Indies in Pakistan on April 5 and April 7, respectively, in preparation for their attempt to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2005. England Men will play their maiden T20I series in Ireland in September, which will consist of three matches, while Ireland Men will host the West Indies in ODI and T20I series in May and June, respectively.
Ireland drops home series vs Afghanistan
As per the Men's Future Tours Program (FTP), Ireland was scheduled to play three ODIs, three T20Is, and a Test match against Afghanistan. Warren Deutrom, the chief executive of Cricket Ireland, stated that the cancellation of all seven games was due to financial rather than political grounds, even if it follows Australia and England's decision to forego playing a bilateral series against Afghanistan. It was disclosed earlier this week that Human Rights Watch has demanded that Afghanistan's participation in the ICC be suspended due to violations of human rights.
"One planned series that won't go ahead for financial reasons is against Afghanistan. This decision is part of our management of short-term budgetary constraints, as well as our requirement to comply with the Board's mandate to deliver balanced investment across the organisation's strategic objectives," Deutrom said.
Since becoming Full Members of the ICC in 2017, Ireland has played 10 Test matches, but only two of those matches have been hosted. They won two more Test matches against Zimbabwe, one at home last year and one away last month, after securing their first victory in the format against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates in 2024.
In an attempt to get over what Deutrom at the time referred to as "current infrastructure constraints"—the absence of a permanent home stadium and the high expense of temporary facilities—Ireland hosted a "home" white-ball series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi last year. The construction of a permanent international cricket stadium and high performance center in Dublin was authorized by the Irish government in August. In order to prepare Ireland to co-host the 2030 T20 World Cup alongside England and Scotland, the first phase, which includes a primary cricket oval, permanent seating for 4,000 people, and the high performance center, is scheduled to be completed in 2028.
"Off the field, recent Programme for Government announcements will enable us to continue our planning for the new Dublin stadium and for the 2030 T20 World Cup, while we're looking forward to announcing infrastructure and facilities investments across Ireland as part of our expanded Club Fund," Deutrom said.
As part of a trip that also includes a white-ball tri-series against Sri Lanka A, Ireland Wolves will play Afghanistan A in four-day and one-day matches in Abu Dhabi next month. Beginning in mid-July, Ireland Men will also compete against Scotland and the Netherlands in the European T20 Premier League. Zimbabwe In July, women will go to Ireland for the first time since they were included in the Women's FTP for 2025–2029. They will play two ODIs after three T20Is. Then, in August, Pakistan Women will go to Ireland for three Twenty20 matches before Ireland Women compete in the T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier in the Netherlands.
