Pakistan Set to Begin T20 World Cup Preparations with Ireland Series

The Pakistan cricket team is gearing up for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 with a crucial three-match away series against Ireland, commencing tomorrow.

This series holds importance as it is for first time Ireland will host Pakistan for a bilateral T20I series. Their previous and only encounter dates back to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009, where Pakistan emerged victorious by 39 runs, with Kamran Akmal earning the Player of the Match award for his star performance.

Paul Stirling and Babar Azam pose with the T20I series trophy.

Both Pakistan and Ireland are in Group A for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, set to face each other again in Florida on June 16. Alongside them in the group are India, the United States of America (USA), and Canada, with the top two teams advancing to the next stage.

---

---

The three T20Is against Ireland are scheduled at Castle Avenue on May 10, 12, and 14, respectively, before the team heads to Headingley, Leeds, for a four-match T20I series against England.

Pakistan's head coach, Azhar Mahmood, emphasized that the team's preparations for the mega event commenced with a five-match home series against New Zealand. However, the Europe tour will serve as the final touch to their preparations.

“Our preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 began with the home series against New Zealand and now it’s all about putting the final touches on those preparations.

“We have clarity on our game plans, strategies and combinations. It’s about bringing everything together before we arrive in the United States.

“We’ve only played Ireland once, so they will be a relatively new opponent for us. However, any team in T20 cricket can be dangerous as the match can swing in one over.

“The three T20Is will provide us with good information about their players and how they approach T20 cricket.”

Notably, Pakistan's left-arm pacer, Mohammad Amir, will miss the T20I series opener against Ireland due to visa delays but is expected to join the squad on Friday, ensuring his participation in subsequent matches.

Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (c), 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 Squad: Paul Stirling (c), 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.

1st T20I - Castle Avenue, Dublin

Friday, May 10

2nd T20I - Castle Avenue, Dublin

Sunday, May 12

3rd T20I - Castle Avenue, Dublin

Tuesday, May 14