Ireland will play a Test match for the first time in nearly four years when the men’s team takes on Bangladesh in Dhaka in early April at the end of a month-long multi-format tour.

When Ireland were given Full Member status by the International Cricket Council in 2017, three Tests quickly followed against Pakistan, Afghanistan and England, but a combination of Covid and the cost of staging longer matches has prohibited further games.

The Bangladesh tour will also feature three one-day internationals and three T20s while Ireland are expecting to play a Test in Sri Lanka later the same month and then return to Lord’s in June for a multi-day clash with England.

The news will cheer Andy Balbirnie’s squad as they make their way back home from Harare after the final ODI of their Zimbabwe tour was washed out by rain with the home side 55-1 after 13 overs, leaving the keenly-contested series drawn at 1-1.

Meanwhile, Annabel Squires hit 55 not out in the Super Sixes of the U19 World Cup yesterday (MON) but her 52-ball innings was a lone hand as Ireland were restricted to 113-7 in Potchefstroom, and lost to Pakistan by seven wickets.