Afghanistan to tour Ireland for five-match ODI series
Afghanistan will travel to Ireland in July to play a five-match One-Day International series in Belfast, Cricket Ireland announced on Tuesday (April 12). The matches will be played between 10-19 July and this will be the first time the two teams will play a five-match series against each other.
"We're certainly getting close to the amount and variety of fixtures we need to continue our international development," gushed John Bracewell, the head coach. "The more games we play in varying conditions, the more we learn and grow as a cricketing nation. I expect the five-game series against Afghanistan will be tough and fiercely competitive.
"They had an excellent series win in both ODIs and T20s against Zimbabwe last year, and continued that form in the World Twenty20 beating the eventual champions West Indies, which was a fantastic achievement for them and the Associate cricket cause. It'll be a new experience for the players to be involved in a five-game series, but one which I'm certain they'll relish and thrive on."
Richard Holdsworth, Cricket Ireland's performance director, hoped the matches will be competitive and hard-fought. "We are really looking forward to hosting the Afghan team in what have become great contests between well-matched teams," he said. "Being ranked 10th and 11th in the ICC ODI rankings should ensure hard-fought matches and we hope the Belfast public comes out in strong support of the home team.
"In addition, we shall be visiting Afghanistan's new home of international cricket in Delhi early next year, when we are due to play our ICC Intercontinental Cup match. We have also agreed to stay on longer and play an ODI and T20I series with them, which will not only continue our close rivalry, but also count towards qualification for the Cricket World Cup in 2019."
Ireland successfully co-hosted the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier with Scotland last year. They played one One-Day International against Australia in August and before that had Scotland come over for a four-match Twenty20 International series.
The last time Afghanistan played a five-match series was against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe and they sealed the series 3-2.
In ODIs, Ireland and Afghanistan have met five times with Ireland winning three and one match being abandoned due to rain.
http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/79266/afghanistan-to-tour-ireland-for-five-match-odi-series-associate-cricket
Afghanistan will travel to Ireland in July to play a five-match One-Day International series in Belfast, Cricket Ireland announced on Tuesday (April 12). The matches will be played between 10-19 July and this will be the first time the two teams will play a five-match series against each other.
"We're certainly getting close to the amount and variety of fixtures we need to continue our international development," gushed John Bracewell, the head coach. "The more games we play in varying conditions, the more we learn and grow as a cricketing nation. I expect the five-game series against Afghanistan will be tough and fiercely competitive.
"They had an excellent series win in both ODIs and T20s against Zimbabwe last year, and continued that form in the World Twenty20 beating the eventual champions West Indies, which was a fantastic achievement for them and the Associate cricket cause. It'll be a new experience for the players to be involved in a five-game series, but one which I'm certain they'll relish and thrive on."
Richard Holdsworth, Cricket Ireland's performance director, hoped the matches will be competitive and hard-fought. "We are really looking forward to hosting the Afghan team in what have become great contests between well-matched teams," he said. "Being ranked 10th and 11th in the ICC ODI rankings should ensure hard-fought matches and we hope the Belfast public comes out in strong support of the home team.
"In addition, we shall be visiting Afghanistan's new home of international cricket in Delhi early next year, when we are due to play our ICC Intercontinental Cup match. We have also agreed to stay on longer and play an ODI and T20I series with them, which will not only continue our close rivalry, but also count towards qualification for the Cricket World Cup in 2019."
Ireland successfully co-hosted the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier with Scotland last year. They played one One-Day International against Australia in August and before that had Scotland come over for a four-match Twenty20 International series.
The last time Afghanistan played a five-match series was against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe and they sealed the series 3-2.
In ODIs, Ireland and Afghanistan have met five times with Ireland winning three and one match being abandoned due to rain.
http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/79266/afghanistan-to-tour-ireland-for-five-match-odi-series-associate-cricket
