Dublin: The Ireland women’s cricket team will undertake its maiden tour of Pakistan when it plays a white-ball series in November this year. In fact, this will be the first time a senior Ireland team — men or women — will play in Pakistan.
The tour will begin with a three-match ODI series, followed by as many T20Is between November 6 and 18.
While the venues for the matches will be announced closer to the series, the ODIs form a part of the ICC Women’s Championship.
The two teams also form a part of the trio — the third team being Australia — that will play a T20I tri-series at the Bready Cricket Club in Ireland in July.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2022, following the announcement of full-time contracts. We have a busy summer ahead and are greatly looking forward to the prospect of playing Pakistan in an away series,” said Ireland skipper Laura Delany to ICC.
“As a squad, we haven’t travelled to Pakistan before, but now having qualified for the ICC Women’s Championship we have been presented with this opportunity, one that no doubt will be a good challenge towards the end of the year.
“Having not played in Asian conditions for a few years now due to COVID-19, with a young squad this will be an invaluable opportunity as we are set to play more regularly in this part of the world over coming years,” Delany added.
The two have faced each other on 33 occasions across all formats, with Pakistan winning 24 times and Ireland winning nine of them. They last met in the 2018 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with Pakistan taking the game by 38 runs.
Schedule: Nov 6 — 1st ODI; Nov 8 — 2nd ODI; Nov 11 — 3rd ODI; Nov 14 — 1st T20I; Nov 16 — 2nd T20I; Nov 18 — 3rd T20I.
–IANS