Dublin (Web Desk/Agencies): The Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to kick off its Europe tour with the first of three T20Is against Ireland scheduled to take place on Friday (today).
The series is expected to provide both the teams an opportunity to put final touches to their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies and USA next month.
Following the first T20, the next two matches will take place at the Castle Avenue on May 12 (Sunday) and May 14 (Tuesday). All the matches are scheduled to be played in Dublin.
The series marks the first time Ireland will host Pakistan for a T20I series. The two sides have previously met only once in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009 where Pakistan won by 39 runs with Kamran Akmal receiving the player of the match award for his 51-ball 57 and two stumpings.
Both teams are in the same group for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and will face each other in Florida on 16 June. Apart from the two sides, India, USA, and Canada are also in the same group, with the top two teams advancing to the second stage.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been issued visa for Ireland and he is expected to be available for selection for the second and third T20Is of the three-match series.
After the three-match series against Ireland, Pakistan are due to leave for England for a four-match T20I series with the matches scheduled at Headingley (May 22), Birmingham (25 May), Cardiff (28 May), and The Oval, London (May 30), both England and Pakistan will head to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. England will face Scotland in Barbados on 4 June in their opening match, while
Pakistan will launch their campaign against the United States (US) in Dallas on June 6.
Squads
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir (unavailable for first T20I), Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan.
Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young