UAE men’s cricket team is set to play a four-match ODI series against Ireland, starting January 8 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Thursday. The series will run until January 14.
The Ireland cricket team’s last action on UAE soil came during their two-match ODI series in 2017. William Porterfield starred during the tour as the visitors completed an easy whitewash. UAE vs Ireland has seen a total of five ODIs being played between the teams and the latter is unbeaten till date.
The Emirates Cricket Selection Committee has also named a list of 20 players who have been given the central contracts. 10 players were handed full-time contracts, while the rest were retained part-time.
UAE central contract players
Full time: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ahmed Raza, Mohammad Usman, Chirag Suri, Muhammad Boota, Sultan Ahmad, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid.
Part-Time: Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Tandon, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hamid, Matti Ullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma.
As far as Ireland are concerned, they announced their 16-man squad for the UAE as well as the Afghanistan series last week, with Gary Wilson granted paternity leave to be with his family for the birth of his second child. Neil Rock is set to replace the wicketkeeper-batsman in the lineup.
Ireland squad for UAE ODI-series
Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, David Delany, Gareth Delany, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O'Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
UAE vs Ireland ODI series schedule, fixtures and venues
All match times are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
January 8, Friday: UAE vs Ireland, 1st ODI - Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi - 11:00 AM IST
January 10, Sunday: UAE vs Ireland, 2nd ODI - Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi - 11:00 AM IST
January 12, Tuesday: UAE vs Ireland, 3rd ODI - Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi - 11:00 AM IST
January 14, Thursday, UAE vs Ireland, 4th ODI - Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi - 11:00 AM IST
Where to watch UAE vs Ireland ODI series live?
The UAE vs Ireland matches will be telecast live on Eurosport and Eurosport HD TV channels in India.
UAE vs Ireland ODI series live scores will be available on SportsAdda.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Indranil Mukherjee
