Cricket

BCCI in discussion with Cricket Ireland to have a white-ball tour ahead of the England series

BCCI is in talks with Cricket Ireland for a white-ball tour ahead of the England series, aiming to give Team India valuable match practice.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket Ireland (CI) are in negotiations regarding the possibility of an Indian men's squad embarking on a white-ball tour in the summer of 2025. The games should be played before India's planned visit to England, which consists of three ODIs and five T20Is, starting on July 1.

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This home season has not been very exciting for Ireland's cricket team. They have participated in several home season games, but the weather has caused four of the first eight games to be cancelled. Ireland's match against England on Sunday will be their ninth and last home game of the 2025 summer.

It will be difficult for the BCCI to organise a cricket series with Ireland because they already have three ODI matches against England and five T20I matches scheduled, but the Irish board appears to be optimistic about a series with India in 2026. It would be India's fourth trip to Ireland if it happens, following tours in 2018, 2022, and 2023 that drew sizable audiences to Malahide.

“I opened the meeting by saying, as far as I’m concerned, the quantum of cricket that we’re playing in ’25 isn’t good enough to prepare you guys to play international cricket and to be competitive at ICC tournaments," MacNeice said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “I’m not hiding from that," he added.

Ireland is now playing England in a Twenty20 International series. However, the weather cancelled the second match. Paul Stirling, the captain of Ireland, had claimed prior to the series that his squad felt "underprepared" due to playing too few games. Brian MacNeice, the chairman of CI, met with players and staff to discuss their concerns following the washout. Ireland will not play enough cricket in 2025 to prepare its players for international competitions, MacNeice acknowledged.

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