Ireland to host Afghanistan in July

Ireland are set to host Afghanistan in a five-match ODI series from July 10 to 19. All five matches will be held at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast. It will be Ireland's first ever five-match ODI series.

Ireland are also set to host two ODIs each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the summer, and are scheduled to travel to Australia and South Africa for ODI engagements in September.

"We're certainly getting close to the amount and variety of fixtures we need to continue our international development," John Bracewell, Ireland's head coach, said. "The more games we play in varying conditions the more we learn and grow as a cricketing nation. I expect the five-game series against Afghanistan will be tough and fiercely competitive.

"They had an excellent series win in both ODI's and T20 against Zimbabwe last year, and continued that form in the World T20, beating the eventual champions West Indies, which was a fantastic achievement for them and the Associate cricket cause.

"It'll be a new experience for the players to be involved in a five-game series but one which I'm certain they'll relish and thrive on."

Richard Holdsworth, Cricket Ireland's performance director, also announced that Afghanistan will host a reciprocal series in early 2017, at their new "home" ground in Greater Noida near Delhi.