Pakistan take on Ireland in first T20I today

The Pakistan cricket team will kick off its Europe tour with the first of the three T20Is against Ireland being played at Castle Avenue in Dublin today (Friday), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Trophy unveiled for the Pakistan 🆚 Ireland series 🏆

The first T20I takes place tomorrow 🏏#IREvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/KdFp2Mrha0

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 9, 2024

Pakistan head coach, Azhar Mahmood said: “Our preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 began with the home series against New Zealand and now it’s all about putting the final touches on those preparations. We have clarity on our game plans, strategies and combinations. It’s about bringing everything together before we arrive in the United States.”

https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1788583335335284969
He added: “We’ve only played Ireland once, so they will be a relatively new opponent for us. However, any team in T20 cricket can be dangerous as the match can swing in one over.”

Azhar Mahmood looks ahead to Pakistan's inaugural T20I series against Ireland 🏏

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/azapEFaFDk#IREvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/mzZl6GnHnm

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 9, 2024

Earlier, both Pakistan captain Babar Azam and and Irish skipper Paul Stirling posed for the T20I series trophy.

📸📸#IREvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/nLJt7uim0q

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 9, 2024

It will be after 15 years that the Paul Stirling-led Ireland will take on Pakistan in T20I format. Ireland had lock horns against Pakistan only in the ICC T20 World Cup 2009 in London, when Pakistan thumped Ireland comprehensively by 39 runs.

This marks the first time Ireland will host Pakistan for a three-match T20I series.

Stepping up the preparations for the next challenge 💪

Ready for the Ireland showdown 🏏#IREvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/2QNMQeOS8I

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 9, 2024

The remaining two matches will also take place at the Castle Avenue on Sunday and Tuesday, before the visitors head to Headingley, Leeds, on Wednesday for a series of four T20Is against England.

https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1788593192004100549
Following the England series, with matches scheduled at Headingley (22 May), Birmingham (25 May), Cardiff (28 May), and The Oval, London (30 May), both England and Pakistan will head to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

England will face Scotland in Barbados on 4 June in their opening match, while Pakistan will launch their campaign against the USA in Dallas on 6 June.

TEAMS

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Abrar Ahmed,  Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Haris Rauf,Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir (unavailable for first T20I), Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan.

Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Curtis Campher,  Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Barry McCarthy,  Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young