Cricket Ireland has arranged a five-match one-day international series against Afghanistan’s men’s team, scheduled to take place in Northern Ireland. The matches will be reciprocated with Afghanistan hosting Ireland in the United Arab Emirates next March for one Test, three ODIs, and three T20 fixtures.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has expressed displeasure with Ireland’s decision. England’s policy, supported by the UK government, prohibits bilateral cricket against Afghanistan outside ICC global events, citing concerns about the Taliban regime’s policies toward women. ECB chair Richard Thompson characterized these policies as “gender apartheid.” England previously played Afghanistan in a Champions Trophy group match after a specially convened board meeting approved the fixture, a decision that prompted criticism from a cross-party group of 160 MPs who called for England to withdraw.
The arrangement may have consequences for Anglo-Irish cricket relations. England has historically played preparatory Test matches against Ireland ahead of home series, doing so before the 2019 and 2023 campaigns, but has selected Bangladesh as their warm-up opponent for next year instead. Additionally, the ECB declined an invitation to participate in a proposed Euro Nations Cup tournament involving Scotland, the Netherlands, and Italy, citing scheduling conflicts.
Ireland joins West Indies, Zimbabwe, and four Asian ICC full members in granting Afghanistan bilateral fixtures. Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand maintain similar refusals to play Afghanistan in bilateral series. The ECB has taken alternative measures regarding Afghanistan, organizing a tour by the Afghan Refugee Women’s team to England and extending an invitation to the Afghanistan women’s players for the T20 World Cup final. Afghanistan remains the only ICC full member without an operating women’s cricket programme, though the world governing body has not imposed a ban.
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