Cricket

Ireland Hosts Pakistan in T20I Series OpenerIreland and Pakistan will kick off their three-match T20I series on Friday, May 10, at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin. The series marks Pakistan's first international outing since their underwhelming performance against New Zealand at home.Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, will be eager to bounce back from their 2-2 draw against the Black Caps. However, they will be without the services of pacer Mohammed Amir for the series opener. Ireland, on the other hand, will be missing their star pacer Joshua Little, who is recovering from an injury.Despite the absence of key players, both teams will be looking to make a statement ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Ireland, in particular, will be keen to impress as they prepare for the global tournament.Match Details:* Date: Friday, May 10* Venue: Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, Dublin* Start Time: 7:30 PM ISTBroadcast Information:* The match will not be telecast in India.* Live streaming will be available on FanCode.Key Players to Watch:* Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi* Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Mark AdairSeries Preview:Pakistan will be looking to assert their dominance against Ireland, who they have defeated in all three of their previous T20I encounters. However, Ireland will be determined to upset the odds and prove their mettle ahead of the T20 World Cup.The series opener promises to be a thrilling contest between two teams with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Pakistan's batting prowess will be tested by Ireland's disciplined bowling attack, while Ireland's batting lineup will need to find a way to overcome Pakistan's formidable pace attack.

Josh Little, Ireland's star fast bowler, will remain with the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) until their final group match on May 16. This decision has been made with the approval of Cricket Ireland, allowing Little to miss Ireland's upcoming T20I series against Pakistan and tri-series in the Netherlands.Little's absence from the Ireland squad is a significant blow as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in June. However, Cricket Ireland has allowed him to stay with the Titans due to his impressive performances in the IPL. In his first appearance of the season, Little took 4 for 45 against the Chennai Super Kings.Ireland's provisional 15-man squad for the World Cup remains unchanged from the one that faced Afghanistan in their recent T20I series. The squad will face Pakistan in three T20Is, starting in Dublin on Friday, and then play a tri-series with Netherlands and Scotland from May 19-24.Paul Stirling, Ireland's white-ball captain, will appear at his eighth successive T20 World Cup. He is the fifth-highest run-scorer in men's T20I history and has played a crucial role in Ireland's success in the tournament.The squad has undergone minor changes since 2022, when Ireland reached the Super 12s. Ross Adair, Neil Rock, and Ben White have been added to the squad, while Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Conor Olphert, and Simi Singh have been omitted."The squad is one that we have gradually developed and tested out over the last 18 or so months," said Heinrich Malan, Ireland's coach. "We have an intensive block of T20 cricket coming up this month ahead of the T20 World Cup, and we will be aiming to win as many of those games as possible."Ireland will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against India on June 5 and will face Canada, USA, and Pakistan in the group stage.

Scotland's Women's Cricket Team has made history by qualifying for their first-ever T20 World Cup after defeating Ireland in the semi-finals of the qualifiers. Captain Kathryn Bryce led the charge for Scotland, showcasing her all-around abilities with a brilliant performance both with the ball and the bat.Bryce's exceptional bowling display set the tone for Scotland's victory. She struck twice in the opening over, dismissing both Irish openers for ducks. Her relentless pace and accuracy continued to trouble the Irish batters, as she completed her four-wicket haul by the seventh over, reducing Ireland to a precarious 25 for 5.Ireland's recovery efforts were led by Leah Paul and Rebecca Stokell, who added 22 runs for the sixth wicket. However, Abtaha Maqsood's dismissal of Stokell halted their momentum. Paul and Arlene Kelly then combined for a 60-run partnership, with Kelly contributing 35 runs and Paul scoring 45 before being dismissed in the final over.In response, Scotland's openers, Megan McColl and Saskia Horley, provided a solid start with a 49-run partnership. McColl was the more aggressive of the two, reaching her half-century in the 15th over. However, she was dismissed shortly after by Kelly.Bryce joined McColl at the crease and formed a crucial partnership worth 49 runs. Bryce's aggressive batting, including three boundaries and a six, kept Scotland's momentum going. The duo steadily chipped away at the target, ensuring Scotland's victory with 22 balls to spare.Bryce's all-round performance was instrumental in Scotland's historic triumph. Her four-wicket haul and unbeaten 35 runs showcased her versatility and leadership qualities. Scotland's qualification for the T20 World Cup is a testament to their hard work, determination, and the exceptional talent of their players.

Ireland's cricket landscape is set to witness a unique blend of home and away fixtures in 2024, as the Irish Cricket Board (ICB) navigates infrastructure challenges with innovative solutions.In a bid to overcome the lack of a permanent home stadium and the high costs of temporary infrastructure, Ireland will host a "home" white-ball series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi later this year. This decision, described as "creative" by ICB chief executive Warren Deutrom, allows Ireland to fulfill its international commitments while addressing infrastructure constraints.The South Africa series, initially scheduled for Ireland in July, will now comprise two ODIs and three T20Is in Abu Dhabi from late September. This marks the second consecutive away series against Ireland that South Africa will play on neutral ground, following the relocation of two T20Is to Bristol in England in 2022.Despite the absence of a permanent home stadium, Ireland will host a historic men's Test match for the second time in their history in July. The Civil Service ground in Stormont, Belfast, will host a one-off Test against Zimbabwe from July 25-29. However, financial and logistical obstacles have forced the cancellation of the six white-ball games in that tour.Ireland's home fixtures also include a highly anticipated series against England's women's team, marking England's first tour of Ireland in the professional era. The series will feature three T20Is and three ICC Women's Championship ODIs in August and September.Deutrom acknowledged the challenges faced by Ireland in hosting international cricket, but emphasized the board's commitment to finding creative solutions. He stated, "We know we'll have to explore ways to creatively increase our capacity to host an ever-increasing schedule in the short term."Despite the challenges, Irish cricket fans can look forward to a packed schedule in 2024, with over 40 days of senior international cricket to enjoy. The season promises a diverse array of fixtures, including the historic Belfast Test, the possibility of Irish sides participating in two T20 World Cups, and visits from some of the world's top teams.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the schedule for Pakistan's three-match T20I tour of Ireland. The matches will be played at Castle Avenue in Dublin on May 10, 12, and 14. This series is part of Pakistan's 12-match preparation for the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.Before heading to Ireland, Pakistan will host New Zealand for five T20Is in April, with the first match scheduled for April 18. The final game of the series will take place on April 27. Following the New Zealand series, Pakistan will embark on a tour of England, where they will play four T20Is starting May 22.Pakistan's last T20I outing was against New Zealand in January, where they played a five-match series in New Zealand. Ireland, on the other hand, recently faced Afghanistan in the UAE, losing both the ODI and T20I series. However, they secured a historic first Test win in Abu Dhabi.The T20I series against Pakistan will be Ireland's first international matches since their tour of the UAE. Pakistan was initially scheduled to play three T20Is against the Netherlands in May, but the series was postponed indefinitely due to scheduling conflicts and concerns about player workload.The PCB is actively seeking an alternative window to reschedule the Netherlands series. The upcoming T20I series against Ireland will provide Pakistan with valuable preparation for the T20 World Cup. The team will be looking to fine-tune their skills and build momentum ahead of the global tournament.

Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ireland's Harry Tector engaged in a thrilling batting duel in Sharjah, with Gurbaz's century ultimately leading Afghanistan to a 35-run victory in the first ODI of the three-match series.Gurbaz, known for his aggressive batting, smashed 121 runs off 117 deliveries, including eight fours and six sixes. His innings formed the backbone of Afghanistan's impressive total of 310 for 5. Ibrahim Zadran provided solid support with a 60-run contribution, while captain Hashmatullah Shahidi chipped in with a half-century.Ireland's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets in the powerplay, including captain Paul Stirling. However, Tector and Tucker steadied the innings with a 173-run partnership. Tector, in particular, played a magnificent knock, scoring 138 runs off 147 balls.Afghanistan's left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi proved to be the game-changer, dismissing Tucker and Andy Balbirnie in quick succession. This triggered a collapse as Ireland lost four wickets for just 42 runs. Tector fought valiantly but was eventually dismissed in the final over, leaving Ireland 35 runs short of their target.Farooqi finished with impressive figures of 4 for 51, while George Dockrell and Theo van Woerkom picked up three wickets each for Ireland.

Ireland etched their name in cricketing history on Friday, securing their maiden Test victory against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. This historic triumph marked Ireland's first Test win in their eighth outing in the traditional format.Captain Andy Balbirnie led the charge with an unbeaten 58, guiding Ireland to a six-wicket victory in the final session of the third day. Chasing a modest target of 111, Ireland overcame an early wobble to seal the historic win.Afghanistan resumed their second innings on 134-3 but were dismissed for 218. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi top-scored with 55, while debutant Rahmanullah Gurbaz contributed 46. Mark Adair emerged as the star performer with the ball, claiming eight wickets in the match, including three in the second innings. Craig Young and Barry McCarthy also chipped in with three wickets each.Ireland's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets for just 13 runs. However, Balbirnie stood firm, anchoring the innings with a composed half-century. Lorcan Tucker provided valuable support with an unbeaten 27, forming a crucial 72-run partnership with Balbirnie.The victory was a testament to Ireland's resilience and determination. Having played their first Test in 2018, they have now achieved a significant milestone in their cricketing journey. The two teams will now face off in three one-day internationals and three T20 games as part of their multi-format series.