Follow UsAccording to the Men's Future Tours Program (FTP), Afghanistan were scheduled to play a Test, three ODIs and as many T20Is in Ireland later this year, but Cricket Ireland have cancelled the entire tour for“financial reasons”, and not political reasons.
Ireland Men will play a T20I and ODI series against West Indies at home in May and June before hosting England for three T20Is in September. Ireland played will also be involved in European T20 Premier League in July-August.
"As we say: it's summer, it must be cricket. And this summer Irish fans will be able to enjoy some of the world's best cricketers playing on these shores. On the men's side, we have West Indies and England here, while Pakistan's and Zimbabwe's women's sides will tour as well,” said Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland Warren Deutrom.
"One planned series that won't go ahead for financial reasons is against Afghanistan. This decision is part of our management of short-term budgetary constraints, as well as our requirement to comply with the Board's mandate to deliver balanced investment across the organisation's strategic objectives."
The board also announced that Ireland Women will be playing against Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Thailand and Scotland in the ODI World Cup qualifiers in Pakistan next month. They will also host Zimbabwe Women and Pakistan Women later this year.