Josh Little to Miss Ireland's T20I Series for IPL Commitment

Josh Little to Miss Ireland’s T20I Series for IPL Commitment

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 Women Qualify for Maiden T20 World Cup with Historic Win

Scotland Women Qualify for Maiden T20 World Cup with Historic Win

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 to Host South Africa in Abu Dhabi, Stage Historic Test in Belfast

Ireland to Host South Africa in Abu Dhabi, Stage Historic Test in Belfast

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.

Pakistan to Tour Ireland for Three T20Is in May

Pakistan to Tour Ireland for Three T20Is in May

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 Spinners Crush Ireland in Third ODI

Afghanistan Spinners Crush Ireland in Third ODI

Afghanistan’s spin duo of Mohammad Nabi and Nangeyalia Kharote wreaked havoc on Ireland’s batting lineup, leading Afghanistan to a resounding 117-run victory in the third ODI in Sharjah.

Nabi, a veteran of 15 years, claimed his maiden ODI five-wicket haul, finishing with impressive figures of 5 for 17. The 19-year-old Kharote, making his ODI debut, also impressed with four wickets for 30 runs.

Ireland’s chase of 237 began promisingly, with Paul Stirling scoring a half-century. However, the introduction of Nabi and Kharote triggered a dramatic collapse. Ireland lost eight wickets for just 26 runs, as the Afghan spinners exploited the slow and skiddy pitch.

Nabi’s fifth wicket was a particularly impressive delivery, angled into the left-handed Graham Hume and beating his defense to crash into the stumps. Kharote’s first wicket came in the 25th over, as Curtis Campher edged one to the wicketkeeper.

Earlier, Afghanistan had posted a competitive 236 for 9, thanks to half-centuries from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (51) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (69). Nabi also contributed with a valuable 48.

Ireland’s bowlers had restricted Afghanistan to 96 for 4, but the Afghan batters rallied to add 140 runs for the remaining five wickets.

Despite the absence of star spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Nabi and Kharote proved to be more than capable replacements, showcasing the depth of Afghanistan’s spin bowling resources.

Gurbaz Century Powers Afghanistan to Victory Over Ireland in ODI Opener

Gurbaz Century Powers Afghanistan to Victory Over Ireland in ODI Opener

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.

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