:Irish cricket team against Afghanistan in India in 2018–19

{{short description|International cricket tour}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}

{{Infobox cricket tour

| series_name = Irish cricket team against Afghanistan in India in 2018–19

| team1_image = Flag of Afghanistan (2013–2021).svg

| team1_name = Afghanistan

| team2_image = Cricket Ireland flag.svg

| team2_name = Ireland

| from_date = 21 February

| to_date = 19 March 2019

| team1_captain = Asghar Afghan

| team2_captain = William Porterfield (Test & ODIs)
Paul Stirling (T20Is)

| no_of_tests = 1

| team1_tests_won = 1

| team2_tests_won = 0

| team1_tests_most_runs = Rahmat Shah (174)

| team2_tests_most_runs = Andrew Balbirnie (86)

| team1_tests_most_wickets = Rashid Khan (7)

| team2_tests_most_wickets = Stuart Thompson (3)
Andy McBrine (3)
James Cameron-Dow (3)

| player_of_test_series =

| no_of_ODIs = 5

| team1_ODIs_won = 2

| team2_ODIs_won = 2

| team1_ODIs_most_runs = Asghar Afghan (226)

| team2_ODIs_most_runs = Andrew Balbirnie (215)

| team1_ODIs_most_wickets = Mujeeb Ur Rahman (7)

| team2_ODIs_most_wickets = George Dockrell (8)

| player_of_ODI_series = Andrew Balbirnie (Ire)

| no_of_twenty20s = 3

| team1_twenty20s_won = 3

| team2_twenty20s_won = 0

| team1_twenty20s_most_runs = Hazratullah Zazai (204)

| team2_twenty20s_most_runs = Paul Stirling (124)

| team1_twenty20s_most_wickets = Rashid Khan (11)

| team2_twenty20s_most_wickets = Boyd Rankin (6)

| player_of_twenty20_series = Mohammad Nabi (Afg)

}}

The Ireland cricket team toured India in February and March 2019 to play three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and a Test match against the Afghanistan cricket team.{{cite web |url=http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/afghanistan-series-a-major-step-forward-for-irish-cricket-says-balbirnie-as |title="Afghanistan series a major step forward for Irish cricket," says Balbirnie as tour dates confirmed |work=Cricket Ireland |access-date=30 November 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202042/http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/afghanistan-series-a-major-step-forward-for-irish-cricket-says-balbirnie-as |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/106136/afghanistan-ireland-cricket-series-advanced-to-february-21|title=Afghanistan-Ireland series advanced to February 21|work=Cricbuzz|date=14 January 2019 |access-date=15 January 2019}} It was Ireland's first Test played overseas{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/ireland-to-play-afghanistan-test-match-in-2019-1.3715696 |title=Ireland to play Afghanistan Test match in 2019 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=30 November 2018}} and the first Test match between the two sides.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/924784 |title=One-off Test: Afghanistan to host Ireland in Dehradun |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=30 November 2018}} All of the fixtures took place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/46399569 |title=Ireland to face Afghanistan in first oversees Test in March |work=BBC Sport |access-date=30 November 2018}} The ODI fixtures were part of Afghanistan's preparation for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/revised-tour-dates-for-ireland-v-afghanistan-series-released |title=Revised tour dates for Ireland v Afghanistan series released |work=Cricket Ireland |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114210609/http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/revised-tour-dates-for-ireland-v-afghanistan-series-released |url-status=dead }} In January 2019, the fixtures were brought forward by two days, to avoid clashing with the Indian Premier League.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25758296/ireland-afghanistan-tour-dates-adjusted-avoid-clash-ipl |title=Ireland-Afghanistan tour dates adjusted to avoid clash with IPL |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=14 January 2019}}

In the second T20I match, the Afghanistan team set several records. They made the highest team total, with 278 for 3,{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1062622 |title=Afghanistan hammer highest T20 total |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=24 February 2019}} which included the highest partnership for any wicket, with Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani putting on 236 runs for the first wicket.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47344858 |title=Afghanistan set record T20 international total as they hit 278-3 to beat Ireland |work=BBC Sport |access-date=23 February 2019}} Hazratullah Zazai scored 162 not out, the highest score for an Afghan batsman in a T20I fixture.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26061147/hazratullah-zazai-162*-afghanistan-278-record-breaking-t20i |title=Hazratullah Zazai 162*, Afghanistan 278 - a record-breaking T20I |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 February 2019}} Afghanistan went on to win the T20I series 3–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/rashids-five-for-helps-afghanistan-complete-whitewash-over-ireland-2047103.html |title=Rashid's Five-for Helps Afghanistan Complete Whitewash Over Ireland |work=Network18 Media and Investments Ltd |access-date=24 February 2019}} The ODI series was drawn 2–2, after the second match finished as a no result.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47515408 |title=Ireland beat Afghanistan by five wickets to draw one-day international series in India |work=BBC Sport |access-date=10 March 2019}}

Afghanistan won the one-off Test match by seven wickets to record their first victory in a Test match.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/19052/report/1168120/day/4/afghanistan-vs-ireland-only-test-afg-v-ire-2018-19 |title=Rahmat Shah and Isanullah see Afghanistan through to maiden test win |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=18 March 2019 |access-date=18 March 2019}} They became the joint-second quickest, after England and Pakistan, to record their maiden win in Test cricket.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1109209 |title='Historic day for Afghanistan, for our people, for our team' – Asghar Afghan |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=18 March 2019}} Asghar Afghan, captain of the Afghanistan team said that "it is a historic day for Afghanistan, for Afghanistan people, for our team, for our cricket board".{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26294486/a-historic-day-afghanistan-asghar-afghan |title='A historic day for Afghanistan' - Asghar Afghan |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 March 2019}} Ireland's captain, William Porterfield, said he was pleased how the five debutants performed and that Afghanistan were deserved winners.{{cite web |url=http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/test-day-4-afghanistan-hold-off-ireland-to-secure-maiden-test-victory |title=Test - Day 4: Afghanistan hold off Ireland to secure maiden Test victory |work=Cricket Ireland |access-date=18 March 2019 |archive-date=21 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321084007/http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/test-day-4-afghanistan-hold-off-ireland-to-secure-maiden-test-victory |url-status=dead }} Afghanistan's all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, praised both the batting and the bowling from the team saying "it shows we are ready for Test cricket".{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1109563 |title='It shows we are ready for Test cricket' – Nabi on historic Afghanistan win |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=19 March 2019}} Player of the match, Rahmat Shah, moved up to 89th place in the ICC Test Player Rankings, the highest-placed batsman for Afghanistan.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1109657 |title=Rahmat advances 88 places after scripting Afghanistan's maiden Test win |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=19 March 2019}}

Squads

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto"
colspan=2|Test

!colspan=2|ODIs

!colspan=2|T20Is

{{cr|AFG|2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25943168/mujeeb-left-ireland-test-shahzad-t20is |title=Mujeeb left out for Ireland Test, Shahzad out of T20Is |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=7 February 2019}}

!{{cr|IRE}}{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/983693 |title=Ireland announce squads for Afghanistan series |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=28 January 2019}}

!{{cr|AFG|2013}}

!{{cr|IRE}}

!{{cr|AFG|2013}}

!{{cr|IRE}}

style="vertical-align:top"

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Ahead of the ODI series, Stuart Thompson was added to Ireland's squad.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47390720 |title=Cricket Ireland monitoring India-Pakistan tensions ahead of Afghanistan ODI series |work=BBC Sport |access-date=28 February 2019}} Following the conclusion of the ODI series, Zahir Khan and Sayed Shirzad were both added to Afghanistan's Test squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26236915/afghanistan-add-zahir-khan-sayed-shirzad-test-squad |title=Afghanistan add Zahir Khan and Sayed Shirzad to Test squad |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=12 March 2019}}

T20I series

=1st T20I=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 21 February 2019

| time = 18:30

| night = Yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|IRE}}

| team2 = {{cr|AFG|2013}}

| score1 = 132/6 (20 overs)

| runs1 = George Dockrell 34* (28)

| wickets1 = Mohammad Nabi 2/16 (4 overs)

| score2 = 136/5 (19.2 overs)

| runs2 = Mohammad Nabi 49* (40)

| wickets2 = Boyd Rankin 2/39 (4 overs)

| result = Afghanistan won by 5 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168112.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afg) and Izatullah Safi (Afg)

| motm = Mohammad Nabi (Afg)

| toss = Ireland won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes = George Dockrell and Stuart Poynter made Ireland's highest seventh-wicket partnership in T20Is (67).{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1058831|title=Nabi shines and records tumble as Afghanistan clinch T20I opener|publisher=International Cricket Council|access-date=21 February 2019}}

}}

=2nd T20I=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 23 February 2019

| time = 18:30

| night = Yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AFG|2013}}

| team2 = {{cr|IRE}}

| score1 = 278/3 (20 overs)

| runs1 = Hazratullah Zazai 162* (62)

| wickets1 = Boyd Rankin 1/35 (4 overs)

| score2 = 194/6 (20 overs)

| runs2 = Paul Stirling 91 (50)

| wickets2 = Rashid Khan 4/25 (4 overs)

| result = Afghanistan won by 84 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168113.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Ahmed Shah Durrani (Afg) and Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afg)

| motm = Hazratullah Zazai (Afg)

| toss = Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes = Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani (Afg) made the highest partnership for any wicket in T20Is (236).{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/afghanistan-vs-ireland-2019-2nd-t20i-hazratullah-zazai-cuts-loose-afghanistan-demolish-ireland-t20i-record-books-806588 |title=Hazratullah Zazai cuts loose, Afghanistan demolish Ireland, T20I record books |work=Cricket Country |date=23 February 2019 |access-date=23 February 2019}}

  • Hazratullah Zazai scored his first T20I century and made the highest score for an Afghan batsman in T20Is, and second highest individual score overall.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/106830/afghanistan-vs-ireland-2nd-t20i-2019-dehradun-cricket-hazratullah-zazais-night-to-remember-usman-ghani-rashid-khan |title=Hazratullah Zazai's night to remember |work=CricBuzz |date=23 February 2019 |access-date=23 February 2019}}
  • Hazratullah Zazai also hit the most sixes in an innings in T20Is (16),{{cite web|url=https://www.supersport.com/cricket/afghanistan-v-ireland-201819/news/190223_Afghanistan_hit_world_record_T20_score |title=Afghanistan hit world record T20 score |work=SuperSport |access-date=23 February 2019}} with Afghanistan hitting the most sixes in an innings by a team in T20Is (22).{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/afghanistan-vs-ireland/afghanistan-vs-ireland-2nd-t20i-hazratullah-zazai-usman-ghani-go-berserk-as-afghanistan-smash-t20i-records/articleshow/68129651.cms |title=Afghanistan vs Ireland, 2nd T20I: Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani go berserk as Afghanistan smash T20I records |work=The Times of India |date=23 February 2019 |access-date=23 February 2019}}
  • Afghanistan's total of 278 runs was the highest by any team in a T20I.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/11645839/afghanistan-smash-record-t20-score-of-278-against-ireland |title=Afghanistan smash record T20 score of 278 against Ireland |work=Sky Sports |access-date=23 February 2019}}
  • Paul Stirling made the highest individual total for Ireland in T20Is.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1062433 |title=Record-breaking Zazai scripts Afghanistan victory |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=23 February 2019}}

}}

=3rd T20I=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 24 February 2019

| time = 18:30

| night = Yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AFG|2013}}

| team2 = {{cr|IRE}}

| score1 = 210/7 (20 overs)

| runs1 = Mohammad Nabi 81 (36)

| wickets1 = Boyd Rankin 3/53 (4 overs)

| score2 = 178/8 (20 overs)

| runs2 = Kevin O'Brien 74 (47)

| wickets2 = Rashid Khan 5/27 (4 overs)

| result = Afghanistan won by 32 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168114.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Ahmed Shah Durrani (Afg) and Izatullah Safi (Afg)

| motm = Mohammad Nabi (Afg)

| toss = Ireland won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes = Ziaur Rahman (Afg) made his T20I debut.

  • Kevin O'Brien (Ire) scored his 1,000th run in T20Is.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1069124 |title='We're gearing up for bigger things' – Kevin O'Brien |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=26 February 2019}}
  • Rashid Khan (Afg) took a hat-trick and four wickets with four balls.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47350300 |title=Rashid Khan takes four in four balls as Afghanistan win final T20 against Ireland |work=BBC Sport |access-date=24 February 2019}}

}}

ODI series

=1st ODI=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 28 February 2019

| time = 13:00

| daynight = Yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|IRE}}

| team2 = {{cr|AFG|2013}}

| score1 = 161 (49.2 overs)

| runs1 = Paul Stirling 89 (150)

| wickets1 = Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3/14 (10 overs)

| score2 = 165/5 (41.5 overs)

| runs2 = Gulbadin Naib 46 (61)

| wickets2 = Boyd Rankin 2/48 (9 overs)

| result = Afghanistan won by 5 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168115.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afg) and Sundaram Ravi (Ind)

| motm = Gulbadin Naib (Afg)

| toss = Ireland won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes = This was the first ODI to be played at this venue.

}}

=2nd ODI=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 2 March 2019

| time = 13:00

| daynight = Yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AFG|2013}}

| team2 = {{cr|IRE}}

| score1 = 250/7 (48.3 overs)

| runs1 = Hazratullah Zazai 67 (43)

| wickets1 = George Dockrell 3/51 (9 overs)

| score2 =

| runs2 =

| wickets2 =

| result = No result

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168116.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Sundaram Ravi (Ind) and Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afg)

| motm =

| toss = Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain = Rain during Afghanistan's innings prevented any further play.

| notes = Ikram Alikhil, Sayed Shirzad (Afg) and James Cameron-Dow (Ire) all made their ODI debuts.

}}

=3rd ODI=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 5 March 2019

| time = 13:00

| daynight = Yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AFG|2013}}

| team2 = {{cr|IRE}}

| score1 = 256/8 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Najibullah Zadran 104* (98)

| wickets1 = Boyd Rankin 2/56 (10 overs)

| score2 = 260/6 (49 overs)

| runs2 = Andrew Balbirnie 145* (136)

| wickets2 = Dawlat Zadran 2/52 (10 overs)

| result = Ireland won by 4 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168117.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Sundaram Ravi (Ind) and Izatullah Safi (Afg)

| motm = Andrew Balbirnie (Ire)

| toss = Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes = Najibullah Zadran (Afg) scored his first century in ODIs.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/afghanistan-vs-ireland-2019-3rd-odi-najibullah-zadrans-unbeaten-century-carries-afghanistan-to-256-8-810978 |title=3rd ODI: Najibullah Zadran's unbeaten century carries Afghanistan to 256/8 |work=Cricket Country |date=5 March 2019 |access-date=5 March 2019}}

  • Andrew Balbirnie scored the most sixes in an ODI innings for Ireland (8).{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47459919|title=Ireland beat Afghanistan: Andrew Balbirnie hits 145 not out|work=BBC Sport|access-date=6 March 2019}}

}}

=4th ODI=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 8 March 2019

| time = 13:00

| daynight = Yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AFG|2013}}

| team2 = {{cr|IRE}}

| score1 = 223 (49.1 overs)

| runs1 = Mohammad Nabi 64 (85)

| wickets1 = James Cameron-Dow 3/32 (10 overs)

| score2 = 114 (35.3 overs)

| runs2 = Kevin O'Brien 26 (57)

| wickets2 = Aftab Alam 4/25 (8 overs)

| result = Afghanistan won by 109 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168118.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afg) and Sundaram Ravi (Ind)

| motm = Rashid Khan (Afg)

| toss = Ireland won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

=5th ODI=

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 10 March 2019

| time = 13:00

| daynight = Yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AFG|2013}}

| team2 = {{cr|IRE}}

| score1 = 216/6 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Asghar Afghan 82* (111)

| wickets1 = George Dockrell 2/46 (10 overs)

| score2 = 219/5 (47.2 overs)

| runs2 = Paul Stirling 70 (88)

| wickets2 = Zahir Khan 2/55 (10 overs)

| result = Ireland won by 5 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168119.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Sundaram Ravi (Ind) and Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afg)

| motm = Asghar Afghan (Afg)

| toss = Ireland won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes = Zahir Khan (Afg) made his ODI debut.

}}

Only Test

{{Two-innings cricket match

| date = 15–19 March 2019While five days of play were scheduled for the one-off Test, the match reached a result in four days.

| team1 = {{cr-rt|IRE}}

| team2 = {{cr|AFG|2013}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 172 (60 overs)

| runs-team1-inns1 = Tim Murtagh 54* (75)

| wickets-team1-inns1 = Mohammad Nabi 3/36 (14 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 314 (106.3 overs)

| runs-team2-inns1 = Rahmat Shah 98 (214)

| wickets-team2-inns1 = Stuart Thompson 3/28 (17.3 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 288 (93 overs)

| runs-team1-inns2 = Andrew Balbirnie 82 (149)

| wickets-team1-inns2 = Rashid Khan 5/82 (34 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 149/3 (47.5 overs)

| runs-team2-inns2 = Rahmat Shah 76 (122)

| wickets-team2-inns2 = James Cameron-Dow 1/24 (5.5 overs)

| result = Afghanistan won by 7 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1168120.html Scorecard]

| venue = Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun

| umpires = Richard Illingworth (Eng) and Sundaram Ravi (Ind)

| motm = Rahmat Shah (Afg)

| toss = Ireland won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes = This was the first Test to be played at this venue.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/rajiv-gandhi-cricket-stadium-to-host-first-test-match-between-afghanistan-and-ireland-from-march-15/articleshow/67541446.cms |title=Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium To Host First Test Match Between Afghanistan And Ireland From March 15 |work=The Times of India |access-date=29 July 2024 |date=15 January 2024}}

}}

Notes

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References

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