There was sad news this week with the death of former international Pat Dineen. By way of tribute we reproduce Edward Liddle's biography of the Munster legend.

It seems the bigwigs have lost sight of the fact that their primary role is to stage games of cricket.

Ireland will play home series against West Indies and England as previously announced, but their continued financial constraints have led to the scrapping of the series against Afghanistan.

Gavin Hoey will lead a 15-strong Ireland Wolves squad to Abu Dhabi next month where they will play a triangular one-day series against Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed that it will host a Tri-Nation Series featuring A teams from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Ireland. 

Tim Tector became the third member of his family to win a full Ireland cap last night but his debut ended in frustration as the final T20 international against Zimbabwe was abandoned in Harare.

Middlesex Cricket have announced that left-arm Ireland international quick, Josh Little, will join the Club in the 2025 season.

Craig Young grabbed four wickets as Ireland fought hard to defend an inadequate total of 137-8 in Harare but Zimbabwe just shaded a seesaw battle by three wickets to take a 1-0 lead with one to play in the T20 international series.

Mark Adair has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe with Craig Young named as Adair’s replacement.

Andy Balbirnie, Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker all made half-centuries for Ireland in Harare yesterday but their efforts were nowhere near enough to prevent Zimbabwe charging to a nine-wicket win and claiming the one-day international series.

Ross Adair has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe with Tim Tector called in as Adair’s replacement.

Curtis Campher took three wickets in seven balls and followed up with a solid half-century in Harare yesterday as Ireland eased to a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international.

Barry McCarthy is returning home from Zimbabwe after sustaining an abdominal muscle injury during the recent Test Match and will miss the white-ball leg of the tour, with Jordan Neill and Fionn Hand being called up as replacements.

Paul Stirling was left rueing what could have been as opener Brian Bennett scored a magnificent 169 to set Zimbabwe on the way to a 49-run victory over Ireland in the first of a three-match one-day international series in Harare.

It seems barmy that the one format at which Ireland are genuinely successful is treated so diffidently by the governing body, especially while the white ball teams flounder.

Matthew Humphreys spun Ireland to a third successive Test match victory in Bulawayo claiming two of the last three wickets to fall as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 228 and beaten by 63 runs.

MATTHEW HUMPHREYS struck three times on a rain shortened fourth day in Bulawayo to leave Ireland just three wickets away from victory as Zimbabwe reached stumps on 183-7 in the one-off Test match.

Ireland took control against Zimbabwe with half-centuries from Andrew Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker and three late wickets for the bowlers. 

Andy Balbirnie led his Ireland side to a useful 76-run lead over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo at the end of a second day of mixed fortunes and shifting momentum in the one-off Test match.

Andy McBrine came to the rescue of Ireland again in Bulawayo, making a career-best 90 not out to leave the one-off Test match against Zimbabwe evenly poised after the first day of five.

Harry Tector will be looking to put a difficult 2024 behind him this week when Ireland take on Zimbabwe in a one-off Test match in Bulawayo at the start of a multi-format tour.

South Africa are looking for suitable warm-up opponents ahead of the World Test Championship at Lord's in June.

Morgan Topping has been included in the Ireland squad that will play seven matches against Zimbabwe next month.