Dublin, July 28: Ireland and Afghanistan will compete in a five-match ODI series from August 5 to 14. For the first three matches, Ireland has recalled captain Paul Stirling, who is making his return after recovering from an injury sustained during the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
On Tuesday, Cricket Ireland announced a 14-member squad for the initial three matches of the series. Following impressive performances, Jai Moondra, Ben Killitz, and Byron McDonough have been included in the ODI team for the first time.
Moondra and Killitz were part of Ireland’s historic T20 series victory against T20 World Cup champions India, which helped them secure their spots in the ODI lineup.
However, Ireland will be without several experienced players due to injuries. Fast bowlers Josh Little, Matt Holland, Craig Young, Barry McCarthy, Jordan Neil, and David Delany are unavailable for selection.
The ODI series will kick off on August 5 in Brady, with the second match scheduled for August 7 at the same venue. The remaining three matches will take place on August 10, 12, and 15 at Stormont.
This series will also mark the first assignment for Afghanistan’s newly appointed head coach, Gary Wilson. Over the past decade, Ireland and Afghanistan have had a fierce rivalry across all formats, featuring many closely contested matches in bilateral cricket and ICC events.
Ireland’s squad for the first three ODIs includes: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Ben Killitz, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, and Lorcan Tucker.
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