Dublin snubbed in thin Ireland men fixture list

CRICKET Ireland have finally announced their 2026 home fixtures with only a marginally larger list than last year’s much-criticised programme. The senior men play just two T20s against world champions India, a four-day Test against New Zealand, and five ODIs against Afghanistan that are sure to draw protests over that nation’s oppression of women.

Ireland’s senior women will play two T20s apiece in a Tri-series with West Indies and Pakistan in May/June, with three ODIs against the Windies in July. The women will also tour England for three ODIs in September.

Controversially, not a single day of senior men’s cricket will be staged in Dublin, with nine days scheduled for Stormont and two in Bready. The women’s T20Is will be held in Clontarf and the ODIs in Bready.

In her first interaction with the media since taking over this month, new CEO Sarah Keane said: ‘As a nation that sits at the top table of the world’s second-largest sport, we are approaching an inflection point in our journey.

‘A new ICC funding cycle and a new men’s FTP are almost upon us, but the volatility in the global economy combined with a number of local challenges (Brexit impacts, inflation and a large facilities deficit) are threatening to hold back our growth and progress.

‘Our global profile and our local diversity, should be two assets that we can leverage to our advantage — but, to do this, we need to be a fit-for-purpose operation.

‘So, my focus over the coming months is to develop a sustainable approach to our business — to seek greater planning certainty year-on-year, to find money to invest in our talent pathways, to enhance our profile within the Irish community and to support clubs to source funding for equipment and facilities upgrades.

‘Today’s announcements mark the start of this work. We will partner with Government and other stakeholders, and the fans to grow our game. Irish cricket deserves nothing less.’

Cricket Ireland unveiled a string of changes, initiatives and aspirations for the next 12 months.

As part of five-year agreements with Nepal and UAE, the senior men will play white ball series in both nations this winter, and six Irish players will participate in the ILT20 franchise tournament in the gulf state.

They will also tour Pakistan for the first time in January and take on Afghanistan in a multi-format series in the UAE, notwithstanding Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu’s plans. The Ireland Wolves will also head to Zimbabwe for a multi-format tour in October.

And England have agreed to play three T20Is in 2029 which CI hopes will be the first internationals to be played at their new stadium in Abbotstown.

An annual Euro Nations Cup for both Men and Women is hoped to commence in 2027 with teams from Ireland, Scotland, Netherland, Italy and England.

But in a retrograde step, both men’s and women’s interprovincial competitions have been cut back, each losing a team.

The axing of the Munster Reds was signalled last year but is still a blow to cricketers in the south of the country.

And after seven years without red-ball cricket, there is still no sign of a return of the inter-provincial championship.

Munster will have to make do with a new event called the Atlantic Series, which will see them compete against the North-West Warriors and Connacht.

MEN’S HOME FIXTURES
Test Match: 27-30 May: Ireland v New Zealand (Stormont, Belfast; 11am daily)
Ireland v India T20I series: 26 and 28 June (Stormont; starting time TBC)
Ireland v Afghanistan ODI series: 5 and 7 August (Bready; starts 10.45am), 10, 12 and 14 August (Stormont; starts 10.45am)

WOMEN’S HOME FIXTURES
T20 Tri-Series: (all Clontarf, 4pm) 28 May: Ireland v West Indies, 29 May: Pakistan v West Indies, 31 May: Ireland v Pakistan, 1 June: Ireland v West Indies, 3 June: Pakistan v West Indies, 4 June: Ireland v Pakistan.

ODI series: 10, 12, 15 July: Ireland v West Indies (Bready; starts 10.45am).