The five-match ODI series between Ireland and Afghanistan will commence on August 5, Wednesday. Here’s all you need to know about the series.
When and where will the Ireland vs Afghanistan 2026 ODI series be played?
Ireland will host Afghanistan, with the two sides locking horns in an ODI series for the first time since 2024. The first of the five ODIs will be played on August 5, with the next four games to be played on August 7, 10, 12 and 14, respectively.
With a few changes having taken place on both sides, the two teams will aim to put their best foot forward. While Afghanistan are placed eighth in the latest ICC men’s ODI team rankings, Ireland occupy the 12th spot. All the matches are scheduled to start at 10.45am local time (3.15pm IST, 10.45am UK time).
Ireland vs Afghanistan 2026 ODIs: Full schedule
1st ODI - Wednesday, August 5, Bready
2nd ODI - Friday, August 7, Bready
3rd ODI - Monday, August 10, Belfast
4th ODI - Wednesday, August 12, Belfast
5th ODI - Saturday, August 15, Belfast
Also read: Reports: Jasprit Bumrah advised against travelling to Sri Lanka, may miss Test series
Ireland vs Afghanistan 2026 ODIs: Full squads
Ireland (first 3 ODIs):
Andy Balbirnie, Ben Calitz, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Paul Stirling (capt.), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Gavin Hoey, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra.
Afghanistan:
Darwish Rasooli, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah (capt.), Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangeyalia Kharote, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Allah Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem, Yamid Ahmadzai, Ziaur Rahman.
Ireland vs Afghanistan 2026 ODIs: Team news
The hosts, led by Paul Stirling, have been hit severely with injuries. They have named a 14-member squad for the first three ODIs, after which they will evaluate the recovery of the injured players. Josh Little, Craig Young, Barry McCarthy, David Delany, Matt Hollard and Jordan Neill are all missing due to respective injury issues.
The Ireland management thus has a good chance to test players like Moondra and McDonough, who have received their maiden ODI call-ups. Moondra burst onto the scene in the T20I series against India, picking up a wicket off his very first delivery in international cricket. He helped Ireland complete a series sweep and was named the Player of the Series.
In addition, Jonathan Trott, former Afghanistan head coach, has joined Ireland for a short-term consultancy role ahead of the ODI series. Moreover, the hosts also have a new head coach in the form of Gary Wilson, who was promoted from his previous post of an assistant coach.
On the other hand, Afghanistan have named Rahmat Shah as their new skipper. To add to that, Shane McDermott has been appointed as the assistant and fielding coach for Afghanistan. McDermott will work closely with Richard Pybus, who was appointed as their head coach in February this year. He took over from Trott.
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