Ireland has canceled a planned multi-format home series against Afghanistan this year due to financial constraints. The decision comes amid a packed summer schedule featuring historic tours by England Men’s T20I team and Zimbabwe Women.
Cricket Ireland announced its international fixtures on Tuesday, including Women’s 50-over World Cup Qualifiers against Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Scotland from April 9-18. Ireland Women will also play warm-up matches against West Indies and Bangladesh in Pakistan on April 5 and 7.
Ireland Men will host West Indies for ODI and T20I series in May and June. England Men will then play their first T20I series in Ireland in September. According to the Men’s Future Tours Program (FTP), Ireland was set to play a Test, three ODIs, and three T20Is against Afghanistan, but all matches have been canceled. Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom clarified that financial, not political, reasons influenced the decision.
Ireland has hosted only two of its 10 Tests since gaining Full Member status in 2017. They won their first Test against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2024 and secured two more victories against Zimbabwe. Last year, Ireland played a “home” series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi due to infrastructure challenges.
The Irish Government recently approved plans for a permanent international cricket stadium in Dublin, set for completion by 2028. Ireland Wolves will tour Abu Dhabi next month for matches against Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A. Ireland Men will also compete in the European T20 Premier League. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Women will tour in July, followed by Pakistan Women in August for a T20I series before the T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier.
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