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.
https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1788563659712598447
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.”
https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1788568184045322548
Earlier, both Pakistan captain Babar Azam and and Irish skipper Paul Stirling posed for the T20I series trophy.
https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1788583339458220299
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.
https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1788580902949265471
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