BELFAST WILL HOST a first-ever men’s Test cricket match in July as Ireland take on Zimbabwe following fears that the fixture might be cancelled.

The Irish Independent reported last month that the match was in doubt due to a shortfall in Cricket Ireland’s funding from the International Cricket Council.

But the five-day encounter will now go ahead in Stormont in what will be just the second Test match held on Irish soil. It will also be the first time that the two nations will meet in Test cricket.

It has also been announced that the Ireland men’s team will face Pakistan and South Africa, and participate in a T20 World Cup between May and October while the women’s team Sri Lanka and England between August and September. Further women’s fixtures will be announced if the team qualify for the T20 World Cup. The side is currently participating  in a World Cup Qualifier in UAE.

Ireland is also set to host a major emerging talent series against a touring West Indies Academy side in June.

Senior International Men’s and Women’s Schedule (April to October 2024)

 Ireland Men

Pakistan series

• 10 May: Ireland Men v Pakistan Men (1^st T20I; Clontarf)
• 12 May: Ireland Men v Pakistan Men (2^nd T20I; Clontarf)
• 14 May: Ireland Men v Pakistan Men (3^rd T20I; Clontarf)

Tri-Series

• 19 May 2024: Ireland v Netherlands (T20I; VRA; start 4pm)
• 20 May 2024: Ireland v Scotland (T20I; VRA; start 5pm)
• 23 May 2024: Ireland v Scotland (T20I; VRA; start TBC)
• 24 May 2024: Ireland v Netherlands (T20I; VRA; start TBC) 

T20 World Cup – First Group stage

• 31 May: Warm-up Match v TBC (T20I; Fort Lauderdale)
• 5 June: India Men v Ireland Men (T20I; New York)
• 7 June: Ireland Men v Canada Men (T20I; New York)
• 14 June: USA Men v Ireland Men (T20I; Fort Lauderdale)
• 16 June: Ireland Men v Pakistan Men (T20I; Fort Lauderdale)

Zimbabwe Test

• 25-29 July: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men (Test Match; Stormont; 11am start time) 

South Africa series

• 27 September: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (1^st T20I; Abu Dhabi)
• 29 September: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (2^nd T20I; Abu Dhabi)
• 2 October: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (1^st ODI; Abu Dhabi)
• 4 October: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (2^nd ODI; Abu Dhabi)
• 7 October: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (3^rd ODI; Abu Dhabi)

****

Ireland Women 

Thailand series

• 16 April: Ireland Women v Thailand Women (1^st T20I; UAE)
• 18 April: Ireland Women v Thailand Women (2^nd T20I; UAE)

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier

• 21 April: Warm-up game v Scotland Women (T20I; UAE)
• 23 April: Warm-up game v USA Women (T20I; UAE)
• 25 April: Ireland Women v UAE Women (Qualifier Group Stage; UAE)
• 29 April: Ireland Women v Zimbabwe Women (Qualifier Group Stage; UAE)
• 1 May: Ireland Women v Vanuatu Women (Qualifier Group Stage; UAE)
• 3 May: Ireland Women v Netherlands Women (Qualifier Group Stage; UAE)

 Sri Lanka Series

• 11 August: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (1^st T20I; Pembroke)
• 13 August: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (2^nd T20I; Pembroke)
• 16 August: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (1^st ODI; Stormont)*
• 18 August: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (2^nd ODI; Stormont)*
• 20 August: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (3^rd ODI; Stormont)*

England series

• 7 September: Ireland Women v England Women (1^st ODI; Stormont)*
• 9 September: Ireland Women v England Women (2^nd ODI; Stormont)*
• 11 September: Ireland Women v England Women (3^rd ODI; Stormont)*
• 14 September: Ireland Women v England Women (1^st T20I; Clontarf)
• 16 September: Ireland Women v England Women (2^nd T20I; Clontarf)
• 17 September: Ireland Women v England Women (3^rd T20I; Clontarf)

* Matches are part of the ICC Women’s Championship

If Ireland Women qualify, they will then play:

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

• 28 September: Warm-up game (T20I; Bangladesh)
• 30 September: Warm-up game (T20I; Bangladesh)
• 3 to 20 October: T20 World Cup event 

Pathway Series

Emerging Ireland v West Indies Academy

• 11 June: Emerging Ireland v West Indies Academy (1^st ODM)
• 13 June: Emerging Ireland v West Indies Academy (2^nd ODM)
• 14 June: Emerging Ireland v West Indies Academy (3^rd ODM)
• 18-21 June: Emerging Ireland v West Indies Academy (1^st 4-day match)
• 25-28 June: Emerging Ireland v West Indies Academy (2^nd 4-day match)

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