UK (Commonwealth) _ Zimbabwe will play its first home Test match in Ireland since 2018 at Stormont on July 25–29, according to Cricket Ireland.
Following recent financial difficulties for the national governing body, the Test—which was part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) draft schedule—was the topic of conjecture. The limited overs leg of the tour will now not happen, but the Test match will still go ahead.
The Australian tour has been rescheduled, as previously reported in The Irish Times, while the home series against South Africa has been shifted to the United Arab Emirates.
The women’s team has booked home series against Sri Lanka and England, but it’s anticipated that matches against the Netherlands won’t happen unless Ireland wins the forthcoming T20 World Cup qualifiers and receives a payment to play in the World Cup.
In addition, Cricket Ireland provided more information on its grassroots budget for 2024, which had been the subject of much conjecture following previous declarations that it will reinvest in that aspect of the game following an ICC funding boost. An additional €2.35 million has been promised, with a 20 percent budget increase planned for three of the four provincial unions.
Additional €165,000 has been committed to “participation activities” at the grassroots level, and a club fund for “small-scale capital projects” has been reinstated. Cricket Ireland says it expects to achieve a surplus of €480,000 this year, following prior forecasts that predicted a deficit of over €4 million in 2023.
Home internationals from Ireland
May 10: First T20 International between Ireland and Pakistan, Clontarf
May 12: Clontarf, Ireland Men vs. Pakistan Men (2nd T20I)
May 14: Pakistan Men vs. Ireland Men (3rd T20I; Clontarf)
July 25-29: Ireland Men vs. Zimbabwe Men (Test Match; Stormont)
August 11: First T20I between Ireland Women and Sri Lanka Women, Pembroke
August 13: Pembroke, Ireland Women vs. Sri Lanka Women (2nd T20I)
August 16: Stormont, Ireland Women against. Sri Lanka Women, First ODI
August 18: Stormont, Ireland Women vs. Sri Lanka Women (2nd ODI)
August 20: Stormont, Ireland Women vs. Sri Lanka Women (3rd ODI)
First ODI between Ireland Women and England Women at Stormont on September 7.
Ireland Women against. England Women (2nd ODI; Stormont) on September 9
Ireland Women against England Women (3rd ODI; Stormont) on September 11
First T20 International, Clontarf, and September 14: Ireland Women vs. England Women
Ireland Women against. England Women (2nd T20I; Clontarf), September 16
Ireland Women against. England Women (3rd T20I; Clontarf), September 17
Ireland men against. South Africa men, September 27 (1st T20I; Abu Dhabi)
Men’s Ireland against. South Africa (2nd T20I; Abu Dhabi) on September 29
October 2nd: First ODI between South Africa and Ireland’s men in Abu Dhabi
October 4th: 2nd ODI between South Africa and Ireland’s men at Abu Dhabi
October 7th: Third ODI between South Africa and Ireland’s men at Abu Dhabi
December 2023 saw the Ireland cricket team go to Zimbabwe for three Twenty20 International (T20I) and three One Day International (ODI) matches. Ireland’s preparation for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup competition included participation in the T20I series.
In Zimbabwe, the first Twenty20 International was the first international match to be played in floodlights. Ireland defeated a Full Member side 2–1 in the T20I series to win their first T20I series on the road. Rain caused the opening match of the ODI series to be abandoned, but Ireland went on to win 2-0. It was the first-ever men’s ODI series win for Ireland in Zimbabwe.
When Ireland plays Zimbabwe in a men’s Test match for the first time, the Belfast stadium will become the 123rd cricket site to host a match in the format. But the planned international series between Australia and the men’s Twenty20 and one-day cricket has been canceled.
The CEO of Cricket Ireland, Warren Deutrum, attributed the “difficult decision” on a lack of infrastructure. In August and September, Ireland’s women will play host to Sri Lanka and England in ODI and T20 series.
Zimbabwe Cricket, formerly known as the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, is in charge of Zimbabwe’s men’s national cricket team, also referred to as the Chevrons, which plays in men’s international cricket matches. Since 1992, Zimbabwe has maintained full membership in the International Cricket Council (ICC). Zimbabwe was rated 10th by the ICC in Tests, 11th in One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 11th in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) as of May 2023.
