Afghanistan and Ireland’s last ODI series ended as a 2-2 draw
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Afghanistan will take on Ireland in March 2017 in a series consisting of nine matches at their adopted home ground in Greater Noida in India.
The series, which will be held between March 8 to 31, will see the two nations play five ODIs, three Twenty20 Internationals and a four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup match.
“This will be a great opportunity for our squad to test themselves,” Ireland head coach John Bracewell was quoted as saying by RTE Sport. “It’s always good for a team’s development to test themselves in different conditions, and there’s no better place than India to do that. I’m sure the younger players in particular will benefit from playing in subcontinent conditions.”
Cricket Ireland’s performance director Richard Holdsworth added: “This tour is exactly what we have been pushing for in recent times, where the national team plays across all three formats over a four-five week period, just like the Full Members have been doing for years.
“Both sides are aspiring to become Test countries and to organise bilateral tours on a regular basis in series with context, rather than focusing mainly on tournament cricket.
“These matches will not only be part of the pathway to Test cricket for both countries, but also part of the World Cup qualification pathway.”
In their last five-match ODI series, which was held in Belfast earlier this month, Afghanistan and Ireland drew 2-2.