Afghanistan and Ireland are set to play the first T20I of the series which will be played in India. The match will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket stadium in Dehradun on Thursday, February 21, 2019.
Live updates:
Ireland have won the toss and opted to bat.
The game will start at 6:30 PM IST, 1:00 PM GMT.
The tour will comprise of three T20Is, five ODIs and one Test. All the matches will be played at the adopted home ground of Afghanistan cricket team in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The tour will also mark the first occasion of a Test between the two new Test-playing nations.
MATCH DETAILS: Ireland v Afghanistan, 1st T20I
β Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) February 20, 2019
π Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
π Date: 21 February 2019
π Start time: 6.30pm (local time) or 1pm (GMT)
π Livescoring: https://t.co/JZPNJuc0ge
π Livestream: via https://t.co/Mpmt9B2gPA#BackingGreen βοΈπ pic.twitter.com/yCKvQvyyOf
AFG v IRE 1st T20I broadcast details
DSport will broadcast AFG vs IRE 1st T20I for the viewers in India. Sky Sports Cricket will broadcast the series for the viewers across the United Kingdom. Willow TV will televise the games in the United States.
Afghanistan will face @Irelandcricket tomorrow in the first T20I match of the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan T20I Cup. The match will be live and exclusive on @1TVNewsAF (Afghanistan) and @DSportINLive (India) while Rabbitholebd Sports will livestream the match on Youtube.#AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/02a2lnfSlY
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 20, 2019
DSport recently came into the headlines for cancelling the broadcast of Pakistan Super League 2019 in India after the tensions between the two neighbouring countries increased in the Jammu and Kashmir attacks of the Indian soldiers.
Read: Big Bash League: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars live streaming on Fox Sports
Shahzad not included in the T20 squad
Mohammad Shahzad, the wicket-keeper batsman of Afghanistan has been left out of the T20Is but he will rejoin the team for the rest of the tour.
Afghan players training session at Dehradun Arena (Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium); Afghanistan and @Irelandcricket will face each other in the first match of the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan T20I Cup tomorrow at 5.30pm AFT.#AFGvIRE #IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/KB0Zntdv5S
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 20, 2019
Saifuddin Ashraf has been taken into the team while left-arm Chinaman Zahir Khan has been called up for both the T20Is and the ODIs.
Hazratullah Zazai, the left-handed batsman who has been impressive in the T20 leagues in the UAE, has been given a spot in the squad for the limited overs matches. Zia-Ur-Rahman is another spinner in the squad which already comprises of Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan.
Afghanistan and Ireland will renew their rivalry as the two teams face each other for the first time in the sub-continent. Watch 2 T20Is and 3 ODIs Live on DSport, starting tomorrow 6:30 PM. #AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/E9xJYYiOgE
β DSport (@DSportINLive) February 20, 2019
Stirling to lead the Irish team
Ireland has called up some of the young guns like Harry Tector, Joshua Little and Shane Getkate.
The trio was with the squad during the recently concluded Quadrilateral series in Oman. Lorcan Tucker, the wicketkeeper-batsman is another new face in the Irish side. There is some experience in the line-up as well with the likes of George Dockrell, Kevin O Brien and Boyd Rankin. Paul Stirling will be leading the side.
We are just three days away before we face @Irelandcricket in Dehradun for the first match of Islamic Bank of Afghanistan T20I Cup.
β Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 18, 2019
Book your tickets online:https://t.co/5kWteVfok2#AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/h6sci1MKV8
The weather forecast predicts rains during the day but it is likely to clear by the time the match starts in the evening.
According to the Cricbuzz report, if the rains stay persistent then the match could be called off entirely as well. The pitch could play in favour of the spinners and Afghanistan lineup which is spin-heavy could actually have an advantage.
Also read: Sky Sports live streaming England vs West Indies 3rd Test at 14 GMT