South Africa to tour Ireland for three T20Is and three ODIs in July

The South African cricket team has not been up to the mark in the recent past. Even after bringing in their preferred choice of coach, Mark Boucher, the team has struggled to cope with the challenges of international cricket. However, the best way to get out of bad form has to be playing matches. 

Cricket South Africa on Monday, February 15, 2021, revealed that their men’s team will travel to Ireland for playing two limited-overs series. The two sides will go head to head in a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series. This will be the first time that the South African team will travel to Ireland for playing a full bilateral series. 

The two teams have previously played in ICC trophies. In 2016, Ireland travelled to South Africa to play in a one-off ODI match. South Africa’s last visit to Ireland as a touring party was way back in June 2007, when they faced the Irish team in one match while playing a three-match ODI series against India in Belfast. 

Ireland cricketing summer programme 2021: South Africa in July, Zimbabwe in August

On Monday, it was announced that the matches on the tour will take place between July 11 and 25. The three-match ODI series will be a part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. All the matches will be played in Malahide and Stormont.

As the announcement of the tour happened, CSA Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, talked about the tour. “We are extremely pleased to have finalised the dates as quickly as we have and for that, we would like to thank Cricket Ireland for their cooperation and willingness to adapt the tour schedule as we continue to finalize our winter programme,” Smith was quoted saying by Cricbuzz. 

The two teams have previously contested in five ODIs, where Proteas have come out victorious on each of those occasions. However, the teams have not played in any T20I matches. After the South African tour, Ireland will play host to Zimbabwe. The two teams will play a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series as well. Zimbabwe will play their matches against the hosts in August. 

South Africa tour of Ireland

11 July, 1st ODI – Malahide

13 July, 2nd ODI – Malahide

16 July, 3rd ODI – Malahide

20 July, 1st T20I – Malahide

22 July, 2nd T20I – Stormont

25 July, 3rd T20I – Stormont

Zimbabwe tour of Ireland

6 August, 1st ODI – Stormont

8 August, 2nd ODI- Stormont

11 August, 3rd ODI – Stormont

15 August, 1st T20I – Bready

17 August, 2nd T20I – Bready

20 August, 3rd T20I – Bready