Irish cricket is poised for a transformative period, with an ambitious schedule of international fixtures, new competitions and strategic partnerships unveiled by Cricket Ireland today that signal a major step forward for the sport across the island.

The governing body outlined a wide-ranging programme spanning men’s and women’s international cricket, domestic restructuring and long-term global collaborations, all aimed at strengthening performance pathways and increasing Ireland’s presence on the world stage.

 

Senior Women’s Schedule

At the forefront of the announcement is a busy calendar for the Ireland Women’s team, who will return to global competition at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England this June. The tournament marks a key moment in their development, with a series of fixtures against leading nations forming part of a broader qualification pathway towards the 2029 Women’s World Cup.

Ireland Women will also host and tour some of the biggest names in international cricket over the next two years, including series against Pakistan, West Indies, England, India and New Zealand. A tour to Zimbabwe is scheduled for early 2027, while a home tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies in May will serve as vital preparation for the World Cup.

 

Senior Men’s Schedule

On the men’s side, the schedule reflects a significant increase in activity, highlighted by the visit of India Men’s National Cricket Team for a two-match T20 international series in Belfast this June. The series brings the reigning T20 world champions to Irish shores and is expected to generate major interest among supporters.

Later in the summer, Ireland Men will host Afghanistan in a five-match one-day international series, while the year will also feature a historic Test match against New Zealand Men’s National Cricket Team at Stormont — the first ever red-ball meeting between the two sides in Ireland.

This has been a difficult decision given the treatment of Afghan women and is likely to create more, and somewhat heated conversation over the summer.  It is one that will be met head on by new CEO Sarah Keane.

Looking further ahead, England Men’s National Cricket Team has agreed in principle to tour Ireland in 2029 for a three-match T20 series, potentially marking the first internationals to be staged at the new national stadium on the Sport Ireland Campus.

Preparations for future ICC events are also central to the expanded programme, with Ireland set to face Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2027 ahead of an ODI World Cup qualifier, as well as a possible Olympic qualification campaign.

 

International Agreements

Off the field, Cricket Ireland has secured long-term strategic partnerships with both the Emirates Cricket Board and the Cricket Association of Nepal. These five-year agreements will guarantee annual fixtures, training camps and opportunities for Irish players to feature in franchise competitions such as the ILT20 in the UAE.

The partnership with Nepal will also see regular bilateral series between the nations, broadening Ireland’s competitive exposure and strengthening ties with emerging cricket markets.

In Europe, plans are advancing for the launch of a new Euro Nations Cup, a proposed annual competition for both men and women that could debut in 2027. Meanwhile, momentum continues to build around the European T20 Premier League, which is scheduled to begin in August 2026 and is expected to further raise the profile of the sport across the continent.

 

Domestic Cricket

Domestically, the representative season has been restructured to better align with international demands. The Inter-Provincial Series will return with enhanced formats, while a new Atlantic Series is being introduced to strengthen competition. The four-day Emerald Challenge will also take place in May as part of preparations for the New Zealand Test.

Speaking on the scale of the announcement, Cricket Ireland Chair Brian MacNeice said the organisation is firmly focused on long-term growth.

“The Board has been sharply focused on the strategic direction for cricket in Ireland – on and off the field,” he said. “Our commitment to increase the volume of cricket to prepare our senior Men’s, Women’s and Pathway squads is reflected in today’s announcements.”

“As a nation that sits at the top table of the world’s second-largest sport, we are approaching an inflection point in our journey,” added CEO Sarah Keane, in her first major public engagement since taking on the role earlier this year.

“Our global profile, and our local diversity, should be two assets that we can leverage — but to do this, we need to be a fit-for-purpose operation.”

Keane added that developing a sustainable financial model, investing in talent pathways and improving facilities will be central priorities in the months ahead.

High Performance Director Graeme West emphasised the importance of aligning fixtures with preparation for major tournaments, noting that the expanded schedule will help create a more consistent and competitive environment for both men’s and women’s squads.

“Crucial to our success in high performance is to ensure there is a strategic alignment between our fixture framework and preparation for ICC events,” he said.

 

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