Sport

Ireland confirm visit of Zimbabwe for first ever Test match held in Belfast

Home games against South Africa are to be held in the UAE while white-ball fixtures against Zimbabwe are postponed

Ireland will play a first home Test since 2018 when they take on Zimbabwe in Belfast this July. Photograph: Ben Whitley/Inpho
Ireland will play a first home Test since 2018 when they take on Zimbabwe in Belfast this July. Photograph: Ben Whitley/Inpho
Nathan Johns
Mon Apr 22 2024 - 18:27

Cricket Ireland has confirmed a first home Test match since 2018 with Zimbabwe set to play at Stormont from July 25th-29th.

The Test, included in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) draft schedule, was subject to speculation after recent financial issues for the national governing body. The Test match goes ahead, but the limited overs portion of the tour will now not take place.

As was previously reported in The Irish Times, the home series with South Africa has been moved to the UAE, while the visit of Australia has been postponed.

On the women’s side, home series against England and Sri Lanka have been confirmed, but it is understood that planned fixtures against the Netherlands will only go ahead should Ireland prevail at the upcoming T20 World Cup qualifiers and earn a participation fee for that World Cup.

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Cricket Ireland also announced further details on its grassroots budget for 2024, the source of much speculation after recent promises to reinvest in that side of the game after a funding increase from the ICC. In the region of €2.35 million of additional investment has been announced, with three of the four provincial unions set for a 20 per cent funding boost.

An extra €165,000 has been pledged towards grassroots “participation activities”, while a club fund for “small-scale capital projects” has been reintroduced.

After previous statements forecasted a loss of over €4 million in 2023, Cricket Ireland says it expects to record a surplus of €480,000 this year.

Ireland home internationals

May 10th: Ireland Men v Pakistan Men (1st T20I; Clontarf)

May 12th: Ireland Men v Pakistan Men (2nd T20I; Clontarf)

May 14th: Ireland Men v Pakistan Men (3rd T20I; Clontarf)

July 25th-29th: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men (Test Match; Stormont)

August 11th: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (1st T20I; Pembroke)

August 13th: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (2nd T20I; Pembroke)

August 16th: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (1st ODI; Stormont)

August 18th: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (2nd ODI; Stormont)

August 20th: Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women (3rd ODI; Stormont)

September 7th: Ireland Women v England Women (1st ODI; Stormont)

September 9th: Ireland Women v England Women (2nd ODI; Stormont)

September 11th: Ireland Women v England Women (3rd ODI; Stormont)

September 14th: Ireland Women v England Women (1st T20I; Clontarf)

September 16th: Ireland Women v England Women (2nd T20I; Clontarf)

September 17th: Ireland Women v England Women (3rd T20I; Clontarf)

September 27th: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (1st T20I; Abu Dhabi)

September 29th: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (2nd T20I; Abu Dhabi)

October 2nd: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (1st ODI; Abu Dhabi)

October 4th: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (2nd ODI; Abu Dhabi)

October 7th: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (3rd ODI; Abu Dhabi)

Nathan Johns

Nathan Johns

Nathan Johns is an Irish Times journalist