Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Ireland's Afghanistan ODI series could cost them England fixtures
The Irish cricket team decided to play a group of five games against Afghanistan.
This made the English cricket board unhappy.
England does not want to play Afghanistan because of how the Taliban treats women there.
England's cricket leader called this "gender apartheid."
England thinks other teams should not play Afghanistan either.
But Ireland has a good friendship with Afghanistan's cricket board.
Ireland decided to host the games in Northern Ireland anyway.
As part of the deal, Ireland will visit the UAE next year to play more games.
Now Ireland might lose the chance to play against England in the future.
Ireland will play a five-match ODI series against Afghanistan, beginning on Wednesday, with all matches in Northern Ireland.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is reportedly unhappy, and the series could cost Cricket Ireland future fixtures with England.
England refuses to play Afghanistan outside ICC events, citing the "gender apartheid" enforced by the Taliban regime, according to ECB chair Richard Thompson.
Cricket Ireland has gone against the ECB's wishes, which are backed by the UK government, citing its close ties with the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
As part of a reciprocal arrangement, Ireland will tour the UAE next March for one Test, three ODIs, and three T20 fixtures.
- Who
- Cricket Ireland, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the Afghanistan Cricket Board
- What
- Ireland is playing a five-match ODI series against Afghanistan, which could cost Cricket Ireland future fixtures with England
- When
- The series begins on Wednesday; Ireland will tour the UAE next March
- Where
- Northern Ireland, with the reciprocal tour in the UAE
- Why
- Ireland chose to keep close ties with Afghanistan despite England's refusal to play them outside ICC events over the Taliban's "gender apartheid"
Cricket Ireland
England and Wales Cricket Board
Playing Afghanistan outside ICC events
Cricket Ireland
Ireland maintains close ties with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and will host five ODIs against them.
England and Wales Cricket Board
England refuses to play Afghanistan outside ICC events because of the "gender apartheid" enforced by the Taliban regime.
Consequences for Ireland-England fixtures
Cricket Ireland
Cricket Ireland chose the Afghanistan series despite ECB concerns, valuing its relationship with the Afghan board.
England and Wales Cricket Board
The ECB is unhappy and the series could cost Cricket Ireland future fixtures with England, a stance backed by the UK government.
- Series
- Five-match ODI series between Ireland and Afghanistan
- Venue
- Northern Ireland
- Start
- Wednesday
- ECB Chair
- Richard Thompson
- England Policy
- Refuses to play Afghanistan outside ICC events
- Reason
- "Gender apartheid" enforced by the Taliban regime
- Reciprocal Tour
- Ireland to tour UAE in March (one Test, three ODIs, three T20s)
- Source
- The Guardian report