Ireland has canceled its home series against Afghanistan due to “financial reasons”. The decision affects seven planned international matches, including a Test, ODIs, and T20Is. CEO Warren Deutrom clarified this move was based on budgetary limitations and not political motives. Ireland continues to prepare for a busy schedule, including hosting the West Indies and the England T20I series, while working toward improving cricket infrastructure.
Ireland has officially canceled its planned home series against Afghanistan for this year, declaring the reason to be financial constraints. Despite this decision mirroring instances where other countries, like Australia and England, have halted bilateral series against Afghanistan, Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom emphasized that the cancellation is strictly due to budgetary limitations, not political issues.
This cancellation affects seven matches, including a Test, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) initially scheduled under the Men’s Future Tours Program. Furthermore, the international fixtures announced by Cricket Ireland feature Women’s 50-over World Cup Qualifying matches against teams such as Pakistan and West Indies, alongside warm-up games for Ireland Women.
The Irish men’s team will host the West Indies in an ODI series in May, followed by T20Is in June. Notably, England will hold its first T20I series in Ireland come September, comprising three matches. Ireland has a goal of improving its cricket infrastructure, having only managed to host two of the 10 Tests since becoming an ICC Full Member in 2017.
In addition to this cancellation, challenges regarding infrastructure have led to previous “home” series being staged abroad, like the 2022 white-ball series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi. The Irish Government’s recent support for developing a permanent cricket stadium and a high-performance center in Dublin is a positive step toward improving the country’s cricket future.
Ireland Wolves will still encounter Afghanistan A in both four-day and one-day matches in Abu Dhabi next month, complemented by a white-ball tri-series involving Sri Lanka A. The Men’s team will also compete in the European T20 Premier League alongside Scotland and the Netherlands later in the summer.
In summary, Ireland’s decision to cancel its home series against Afghanistan stems from financial considerations rather than political factors, as confirmed by Cricket Ireland’s CEO. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Ireland Cricket in terms of infrastructure and budget management. The country remains focused on hosting future international events and enhancing its cricket facilities, aiming for a more sustainable approach in the coming years.
Original Source: dunyanews.tv
