Ireland to face Afghanistan in India in 2017

Ireland recently hosted Afghanistan for a 5-match ODI series which ended at levels 2-2 as one match was washed out by rain. To return favors the Irish team will be traveling to India sometime in 2017 to face the Afghans once again.

Ireland head coach John Bracewell added that the tour to the subcontinent would certainly be a great opportunity for the Irish players to gain some experience of playing in subcontinent conditions. The recently concluded ODI series in Ireland concluded with both sides claiming 2 victories apiece. Both sides have played eight completed ODIs against each other till date, with Ireland winning five and Afghanistan three.

“This will be a great opportunity for our squad to test themselves,” Ireland head coach John Bracewell said, according to RTÉ 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.”

Richard Holdsworth, the performance director of the Ireland Cricket Board welcomed the prospect of playing a bilateral series in India. He also added that it would be a wise decision to have these tournaments on a regular basis.

Also read – Afghanistan to tour West Indies in June 2017

“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,” he said. “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.” He concluded saying.

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