Cricket Ireland in talks with BCCI as India’s 2026 tour plans revealed
Cricket Ireland is in talks with BCCI for a white-ball series next summer as part of plans to boost their international schedule and host more Test cricket.
Cricket Ireland is in discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to arrange a men’s white-ball series next summer, coinciding with India’s tour to England for their T20I and ODI fixtures, according to ESPNcricinfo. Ireland’s home season this year has been disrupted by rain, with four of the first eight matches washed out. Their final home game of the 2025 summer, against England on Sunday, will be the ninth and last of the season.
India is scheduled to play a five-match T20I and three-match ODI series in England from July 1 to July 19 next year. Cricket Ireland officials have reportedly held talks with their BCCI counterparts regarding a potential visit. “I opened the meeting by saying, as far as I'm concerned, the quantum of cricket that we're playing in '25 isn't good enough to prepare you guys to play international cricket and to be competitive at ICC tournaments," said Irish chairman Brian MacNeice. "I'm not hiding from that."
India has visited Ireland for short, efficient series in the short format in the past, including in 2018, 2022, and 2023. MacNeice noted the desire to increase home cricket this season, hoping to have important additions to Ireland's home international cricket calendar in the coming seasons.
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“We mapped out our views and thoughts on what the schedule for '26 and '27 looks like, and I wanted to get their input not just on the international schedule, but also the domestic schedule… It was a really positive session yesterday. There's more work to be done, honestly, but it was a good session," MacNeice added.
According to the ICC Future Tours Programme, Ireland is set to host New Zealand for a one-off Test, Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is, and Afghanistan for a long series including one Test, three ODIs, and three T20Is. “There's still a couple of variables that have to be figured out before we lock in the final schedule, but we'll be hosting Test cricket here next year," MacNeice said. He also confirmed his support for a proposed two-division ICC World Test Championship, which could see Ireland participate in more red-ball cricket, although the system has not yet been accepted by major cricket boards.
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