Cricket Ireland has announced the 14-member national squad on Thursday (16th May) for the upcoming home ODI series against Afghanistan.
Ireland and Afghanistan are set to play the two-match ODI series at Civil Service Cricket Club (Stormont, Belfast). They will play these matches on 19th and 21st May.
Ahead of the upcoming ODI series, Ireland was busy in the home ODI tri-series. Apart from the host side, Bangladesh and Windies have also participated in this series, and they will play the final of this series on Friday (17th May) at The Village (Malahide, Dublin).
Meanwhile, in that tri-series, Ireland finished in the third position in the points table with just two points. While they lost three out of four matches in that tri-series, one game against Bangladesh had no result due to the rain wash-out.
Tyrone Kane has replaced Josh Little
In the latest Ireland ODI team selection, the selectors have made only one change from their previous ODI tri-series squad. The 19-year-old left-arm pacer Josh Little faced a minor back issue during this tri-series. The selectors rested him for the upcoming home ODI series and named the 24-year-old Tyrone Kane as his replacement.
Little made his ODI debut during the one-off ODI against England at Malahide on 3rd May. In that match, he had the impressive bowling figures of 8-0-45-4. However, Ireland lost that low-scoring match by four wickets.
In the latest ODI tri-series, Little failed to impress. Little bagged only one wicket in that tri-series. Before his ODI debut, Little has already played 10 T20Is for Ireland.
On the other hand, the right-arm pacer Kane has played one Test and six T20Is since his international debut in June 2015. While he failed to take a wicket on his debutant Test match, Kane has picked up nine wickets in T20I career. However, he is still the uncapped ODI player.
Ireland cricket team is desperate to perform better in the upcoming ODI series. After this ODI series, Ireland’s next international assignment is in early July when Zimbabwe will tour in Ireland. Ireland and Zimbabwe will play the three-match ODI and three-match T20I series from 1st to 13th July.
Later, in that month, Ireland will play their first Test match ever against England and that too at the Lord’s (London). It will be the four-day Test match that has been scheduled from 24th to 27th July.
Ireland full-member squad for the upcoming home ODI series against Afghanistan:
William Porterfield (c), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Tyrone Kane, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson
The full schedule of two-match ODI series between Ireland and Afghanistan
19th May 2019: 1st ODI – Civil Service Cricket Club (Stormont, Belfast)
21st May 2019: 2nd ODI – Civil Service Cricket Club (Stormont, Belfast)