Pakistani cricket team in Ireland in 2018

Last updated

Pakistani cricket team in Ireland in 2018
  Cricket Ireland flag.svg Flag of Pakistan.svg
  Ireland Pakistan
Dates 11 – 15 May 2018 [nb 1]
Captains William Porterfield Sarfaraz Ahmed
Test series
Result Pakistan won the 1-match series 1–0
Most runs Kevin O'Brien (158) [1] Faheem Ashraf (83) [1]
Most wickets Tim Murtagh (6) [2] Mohammad Abbas (9) [2]

The Pakistan cricket team visited Ireland in May 2018 to play a Test match against the Ireland cricket team. It was the first Test match played by the Ireland men's team since they were awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June 2017. The Ireland women's cricket team had previously played a Women's Test match, also against Pakistan, in July 2000.

Contents

Pakistan won the one-off fixture by five wickets, with Ireland's Kevin O'Brien named as the man of the match, after he scored the first century for Ireland in Test cricket. Despite the loss, Cricket Ireland deemed the match to be a great success. Pakistan's captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, praised the performance of the Ireland team during the match.

Background

The Village, Malahide (pictured here in 2013), was chosen as the venue for Ireland's first Test match. Malahide Cricket Ground 2013.jpg
The Village, Malahide (pictured here in 2013), was chosen as the venue for Ireland's first Test match.

In July 2000, the Ireland and Pakistan women's teams faced each other in a Women's Test match at College Park, Dublin. [3] [4] Ireland women won the match by an innings and 54 runs, [5] with Isobel Joyce named as the player of the match. [6] It was the first Test match played by the Ireland women's cricket team. [7]

On 22 June 2017, at the ICC's annual conference, the Ireland and Afghanistan men's teams were awarded Test status, becoming Full Members of the ICC in the process. [8] The ICC confirmed that a single Test match would be played between Ireland and Pakistan during their meeting in Auckland in October 2017. [9] [10] Cricket Ireland confirmed the date of the Test match at their board meeting in October 2017, [11] with The Village, Malahide, announced as the venue the following month. [12] The match took place ahead of Pakistan's Test series against England and their T20I series against Scotland. [13]

The ICC appointed three English officials for the match. [14] Richard Illingworth and Nigel Llong were the on-field umpires, with Chris Broad named as the match referee. [15] The Decision Review System (DRS) was not used for the Test match, as Cricket Ireland decided they could not afford the cost of using the system. [16] [17]

Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland, said that he was "delighted" that Ireland's debut Test match will be played at home and thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in being Ireland's first Test opponent. [18] Cricket Ireland's director of high performance, Richard Holdsworth, said that Ireland would like to play a return fixture in Pakistan, as long as the security situation in the country remains stable. [19] Deutrom later confirmed that they were considering the PCB's request to tour Pakistan at a later date. [20] [21]

Pakistan's last international fixtures before the Test match was a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series against the West Indies in Karachi in April 2018. [22] Pakistan won the series 3–0. [23] Pakistan's last Test match fixtures were against Sri Lanka, in the United Arab Emirates, in September and October 2017. [24] Sri Lanka won both matches. [25] Ireland had played in the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in March 2018. [26] They finished the tournament in fifth place, from the ten teams that took part, failing to qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. [27]

Ahead of the Test match, Ireland's captain, William Porterfield, said that he was hoping local conditions would help his side, [28] adding that subcontinental teams take some time to adjust. [29] Pakistan's captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, said that the team was really looking forward to playing against Ireland [30] and was confident his young side would perform well in difficult conditions. [31] Sarfraz later went on to say that "it is a big honour for me and my team to play this historic Test match" and that the team was ready to play. [32] At a press conference the day before the match, Porterfield said that "a lot of people have devoted a lot of their lives to make this happen" and that "it is going to be a pretty special occasion". [33]

Squads

Cricket Ireland flag.svg  Ireland [34] Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan [35]


Ruled out through injury

In April 2018, Pakistani leg-spin bowler Yasir Shah was ruled out for ten weeks, due to stress fracture of a hip, causing him to miss the match. The report said that Yasir would need to "undergo extensive rehabilitation". The Pakistan selectors were reportedly considering either leg spinner Shadab Khan (who was chosen) or left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti as his replacement. [36] [37]

Later that month, following a five-day training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, [38] the PCB named a sixteen-man squad for the tour to the United Kingdom and Ireland, including five uncapped players at Test level. [39] [40] In the same month, Cricket Ireland named twenty-six players who took part in two warm-up fixtures ahead of the final selection for the Test match. [41] [42] Seventeen of Ireland's international players also took part in the opening fixture of the 2018 Inter-Provincial Championship, which started on 1 May 2018. [43]

On 4 May 2018, Cricket Ireland announced the squad for the match, with William Porterfield captaining the team. [44] Of the fourteen players named in Ireland's squad, Boyd Rankin had previously played in one Test for England, in the 2013–14 Ashes series. [45] Ed Joyce had also previously played for England, featuring in seventeen One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 2006 and 2007. [46]

Two days before the Test, Nathan Smith suffered an injury and was ruled out of Ireland's squad. [47] He was replaced by Craig Young. [48] Prior to travelling to Ireland, Pakistan played two first-class cricket matches in England, against Kent and Northamptonshire. [49] On the day before the Test, Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed that the eleven that played against Northamptonshire would be the same side to play against Ireland. [50] Therefore, Imam-ul-Haq and Faheem Ashraf both made their Test debuts. [51]

After making his debut for Ireland, Ed Joyce joined his sister Isobel in becoming only the second brother and sister to have played in Test cricket, following Denise Emerson and Terry Alderman of Australia. [52] [53] Ed and Isobel Joyce are also the only brother and sister to have made their Test debuts when playing for their respective gender teams on their country's first ever Test appearances. [54]

Match

Only Test

11–15 May 2018 [nb 1]
Scorecard
v
310/9d (96 overs)
Faheem Ashraf 83 (115)
Tim Murtagh 4/45 (25 overs)
130 (47.2 overs)
Kevin O'Brien 40 (68)
Mohammad Abbas 4/44 (11 overs)
160/5 (45 overs)
Imam-ul-Haq 74* (121)
Tim Murtagh 2/55 (16 overs)
339 (129.3 overs) (f/o)
Kevin O'Brien 118 (217)
Mohammad Abbas 5/66 (28.3 overs)
Pakistan won by 5 wickets
The Village, Malahide
Umpires: Richard Illingworth (Eng) and Nigel Llong (Eng)
Player of the match: Kevin O'Brien (Ire)
Kevin O'Brien (pictured in 2012) scored the first century for Ireland in Tests and was named the man of the match. Kevin OBrien.jpg
Kevin O'Brien (pictured in 2012) scored the first century for Ireland in Tests and was named the man of the match.

No play was possible on the first day due to rain, [55] therefore Ireland became the first side to have the opening day of their maiden Test washed out. [56] As a result of no play on the first day, Cricket Ireland lost 75,000 in ticket refunds. [57] [58] Play finally got underway on the second day, with Ireland winning the toss and electing to field. [59] Tim Murtagh became the first bowler for Ireland to bowl a ball in Test cricket. [60] Boyd Rankin took Ireland's first wicket in Tests, dismissing Pakistan's Azhar Ali, who was caught by William Porterfield at second slip. [60] Rankin became the first player since Kepler Wessels in 1994, and fifteenth cricketer overall, to play Test cricket for two different national teams. [61] [62] Kevin O'Brien became the first sportsperson from Ireland to appear in 300 matches for his country. [63] Reflecting on the day, Ireland's wicket-keeper, Gary Wilson, said that Pakistan "got away from us a little at the end" but added that it was a very proud moment for everyone to be presented with their first Test cap. [64]

Pakistan declared their first innings before lunch on day three, after scoring 310 runs for the loss of nine wickets. [65] Faheem Ashraf top-scored for Pakistan, with 83 runs, including the fastest Test fifty on debut by a batsman for Pakistan, from 52 balls. [66] Ed Joyce faced the first delivery and scored the first run for Ireland in Test cricket. [67] He also became the first batsman to be dismissed for Ireland, when he was out lbw, bowled by Mohammad Abbas. [68] Ireland were eventually all out for 130 runs, with Kevin O'Brien top-scoring with 40, and Mohammad Abbas finishing with four wickets for 44 runs. [69] For the first time in sixteen years, when New Zealand played in Lahore in 2002, Pakistan enforced the follow-on. [70] [nb 2] Ireland finished day three on 64 without losing a wicket, trailing by 116 runs, with Ed Joyce on 39 not out. [73] [74] After the close of play, Joyce said that "it was a tough wicket, but it has flattened out a little bit", adding that "the first session tomorrow is going to be really important". [63]

In the first session of day four, Andrew Balbirnie was dismissed for a pair, [75] therefore becoming the 44th batsman, and first for Ireland, to get a pair on debut in Test cricket. [76] [77] In the second session, Mohammad Amir took his 100th Test wicket, becoming the second left-arm fast bowler for Pakistan to reach the milestone. [78] At the tea interval, Ireland had a lead of 32 runs, [79] with Kevin O'Brien scoring the first fifty in Tests for Ireland. [80] In the final session of day four, O'Brien went on to score his maiden century, and the first for Ireland. [81] He became the 105th batsman to do so on debut in Tests, [82] and the fourth to score a century in their country's maiden Test. [83] Ireland finished the day seven wickets down, with a lead of 139 runs, and O'Brien unbeaten on 118. [84] [85] Afterwards, O'Brien said that it was a "very proud and emotional" moment to score a Test century, and ranked it second on his own personal list, behind the century he scored in the 2011 Cricket World Cup against England in Bangalore. [86] Pakistan's opening batsman, Azhar Ali, said that "the partnership between Thompson and Kevin took the game away from us" and gave credit to the Ireland players and how they batted. [87]

At the start of the fifth and final day, O'Brien did not add to his overnight score, being dismissed for the first ball he faced. [88] Mohammad Abbas took the remaining two wickets, to take his second five-wicket haul in Tests, in his sixth match. [89] With Ireland bowled out for 339, that set Pakistan a target of 160 runs to win. [90] Pakistan won the match by five wickets, [91] in the penultimate session of the match, with an unbeaten fifty by debutant Imam-ul-Haq and a fifty from Babar Azam. [92] Ireland's Kevin O'Brien won the man of the match award for his batting performance. [93] [94] As a result, O'Brien broke into the top 100 in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen, at position 66. [95] Ireland's Tim Murtagh and Stuart Thompson were ranked 67th and 76th respectively in the Test bowling rankings. [95]

Reactions

After the match, Pakistan's captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, said that victory was very important and that the team was very confident in scoring the runs. He added that they were a very young side, but could chase the runs needed to win. [96] He also praised the opposition's performance, saying "the way they bowled, the way they batted, it’s not easy to play Ireland". [97] Ireland's captain, William Porterfield, said that despite losing he was extremely proud of how the team played, saying "it was a hell of an effort". He praised Kevin O'Brien's performance and added it was an all-round team effort. [98] On Ireland's future in Test cricket, he added that he is "very confident in the next generation" and that there will be "hundreds of kids aspiring to be Kevin O'Brien". [99] O'Brien said that he was very proud of his century, but was also disappointed that the team did not put Pakistan under more pressure. [100]

Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland, said "this was a great success" and that "there were three things we were hoping for from this match; good crowds, good weather and competitive cricket". [101] Deutrom also commented on forthcoming fixtures for Ireland across the next four to five years in the Future Tours Programme (FTP), and improvements to facilities to prepare for these matches. [101] [102] Deutrom anticipates that Ireland will play one or two Tests a year, once the final fixtures in the FTP are agreed. [103] Talking about the match, he said that despite the first day being washed out, Ireland were "extremely competitive" and he was "delighted" that they got to the final day still with a chance to win the match. [104]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Although the match was set to begin on 11 May, the first day was lost due to rain and play began on 12 May.
  2. Per the Laws of Cricket, the follow-on is set at a lead of 200 runs in a five-day match, with it reduced to 150 runs in a three- or four-day match. Therefore, with no play on the first day, Ireland needed 161 runs to avoid the follow-on. [71] [72]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland cricket team</span> Irish international cricket team

The Ireland men's cricket team represents all of Ireland in international cricket. The Irish Cricket Union, operating under the brand Cricket Ireland, is the sport's governing body in Ireland, and they organise the international team. The team have a number of home grounds, including Malahide in County Dublin, Stormont, Belfast, Bready in the north-west and Clontarf in Dublin city. A further ground is planned for the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin for 2030. Due to the short season allowed by the Irish climate, and lack of large scale facilities, Ireland also occasionally play 'home matches' in venues in England and further abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niall O'Brien (cricketer)</span> Irish cricketer

Niall John O'Brien is a former Irish cricketer and a cricket commentator. He is a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. Domestically O'Brien began his professional career with Kent in 2004 before joining Northamptonshire at the start of 2007, spending six seasons there before joining Leicestershire for 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Porterfield</span> Irish cricketer

William Thomas Stuart Porterfield is an Irish former cricketer and a former captain of the Ireland cricket team. He played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. A left-handed batsman, he played for Ireland from 2006 to 2022, and has captained Ireland at all levels from Under-13 and is considered one of the greatest Irish cricketers of all time. During Afghanistan T20I series in March 2017, he passed 1,000 runs in T20Is and became the first player from Ireland to do so. In May 2018, he was named as the captain of Ireland's squad for their first ever Test match, against Pakistan. He announced his retirement from international cricket on 16 June 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin O'Brien (cricketer)</span> Irish cricketer

Kevin Joseph O'Brien is an Irish former international cricketer who plays for Leinster and Railway Union Cricket Club. On 16 August 2022, he announced his retirement from international cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland women's cricket team</span> Ireland womens national cricket team

The Ireland women's cricket team represents Ireland in international women's cricket. Cricket in Ireland is governed by Cricket Ireland and organised on an All-Ireland basis, meaning the Irish women's team represents both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarfaraz Ahmed</span> Pakistani cricketer

Sarfaraz Ahmed is a Pakistani professional cricketer, a wicketkeeper-batsman, who plays for the Pakistani national cricket team. He was the former captain of the Pakistan side in all formats. He leads Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League. Under his captaincy, Pakistan won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, defeating arch-rivals India in the final. Coincidentally, during his under-19 days, he also led the Pakistan team to win the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where they had also beat India in the final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cricket in Ireland</span>

Cricket in Ireland is governed by Cricket Ireland, which maintains the Ireland men's and women's cricket teams. Like several other sports in Ireland, cricket is organised on an All-Ireland basis. Following the team's success in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the sport's popularity increased in Ireland. The country was, until 2017, an associate member of the International Cricket Council and played in tournaments like the World Cricket League and ICC Intercontinental Cup, which are qualifying rounds for associate teams to the Cricket World Cup and the ICC World Twenty20. Ireland qualified for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, the 2011 Cricket World Cup and 2010 ICC World Twenty20. In the 2011 World Cup, they beat England in the group matches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Stirling</span> Irish cricketer

Paul Robert Stirling is an Irish cricketer. Stirling is the opening batsman for the Ireland cricket team and an occasional right-arm, off-break bowler. He is one of the top 10 run scorers in T20 internationals. He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Ireland's first ever Test match, against Pakistan, in May 2018. He was appointed as the vice-captain of the Ireland team in June 2020. He subsequently served as interim captain of Ireland in the T20I and ODI format following the resignation of Andrew Balbirnie, before being appointed as permanent limited-overs captain in October 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Balbirnie</span> Irish cricketer

Andrew Balbirnie is an Irish cricketer, the current captain of the Ireland cricket team in Test cricket. Balbirnie is a right-handed batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper. He was born in Dublin and was educated at St. Andrew's College. He was one of the 11 cricketers to play in Ireland's first ever Test match, against Pakistan, in May 2018. In December 2018, he was one of 19 players to be awarded a central contract by Cricket Ireland for the 2019 season.

Stuart Robert Thompson is an Irish cricketer. Thompson is left-handed batsman who bowls right-arm medium-fast. He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Ireland's first ever Test match, against Pakistan, in May 2018.

The Ireland cricket team is the cricket team representing all of Ireland. Since 2017 they have been a Full Member of the International Cricket Council. Although Cricket in Ireland has had a presence since the early 1800s, it was in 1993 the Irish Cricket Union, the predecessor to Cricket Ireland, was elected to the International Cricket Council (ICC) as an Associate member. In the 1997 ICC Trophy, Ireland narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 1999 Cricket World Cup, which was ironically co hosted by Ireland, Scotland, England and the Netherlands. Ireland qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2007, and has since played in the 2011 and 2015 tournaments, and the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Twenty20 competitions. Ireland's best performance was in 2007, where they surprisingly qualified for the Super 8 Stages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier</span> Cricket tournament

The 2018 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier was a cricket tournament that took place during March 2018 in Zimbabwe. It formed the final part of the Cricket World Cup qualification process for the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales. The top two teams, Afghanistan national cricket team and the West Indies, qualified for the World Cup, joining the hosts and the seven teams who had already qualified through their ranking in the ICC ODI Championship. Afghanistan won the tournament, beating the West Indies by 7 wickets in the final. Afghanistan’s Mohommad Shahzad was named the player of the match and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza was named the player of the tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hasan Ali (cricketer)</span> Pakistani cricketer (born 1994)

Hasan Ali is a Pakistani cricketer who plays for the national team in all formats. He made his first-class debut for Sialkot in October 2013. He made his international debut for Pakistan in August 2016 in a One Day International (ODI) match against Ireland. The following summer, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan went on to win the tournament with Ali named player of the tournament after taking thirteen wickets, and took the final wicket of Jasprit Bumrah. He became the quickest bowler for Pakistan to take 50 wickets in ODIs. In August 2018, he was one of thirty-three players to be awarded a central contract for the 2018–19 season by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The Pakistani cricket team toured Australia in December 2016 to play three Test matches and five One Day Internationals (ODIs). The 1st Test at The Gabba in Brisbane was a day/night match played with a pink ball. In preparation for the first Test, ten matches in Pakistan's 2016–17 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the first round of matches in Australia's 2016–17 Sheffield Shield season were played as day/night matches. Ahead of the Test matches, Pakistan also played a first-class match against Cricket Australia XI.

The Sri Lanka cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates in September and October 2017 to play two Tests, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against the Pakistan cricket team. The tour included the first Tests that Sarfaraz Ahmed of Pakistan captained following the retirement of Misbah-ul-Haq. The tour also featured a T20I match in Pakistan, the first time that Sri Lanka had visited the country since 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Zimbabwe Tri-Nation Series</span> International cricket tournament

The 2018 Zimbabwe Tri-Nation Series was a cricket tournament held from 1 to 8 July 2018 in Zimbabwe. It was a tri-nation series between Australia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe, with all the matches played as Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) at the Harare Sports Club. In the fourth T20I, Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets, therefore Australia and Pakistan qualified for the final. Pakistan defeated Australia in the final by six wickets to win the series.

The Ireland cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates in December 2017 to play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) against the Afghanistan cricket team. The matches were used as a warm-up for the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, which took place in Zimbabwe in March 2018. Ireland won the series 2–1.

The Pakistan cricket team toured South Africa between December 2018 and February 2019 to play three Tests, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The ODI fixtures were part of both teams' preparation for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

The Ireland cricket team toured England in July 2019 to play a one-off four-day Test match at Lord's. It was the first Test match to be played between the two sides, and was England's first four-day Test match since they toured New Zealand in 1970–71. It was Ireland's third Test match, and their twelfth international fixture against England.

References

  1. 1 2 "Records, Pakistan in Ireland Test Match, 2018: Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Records, Pakistan in Ireland Test Match, 2018: Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  3. "Along with history, Ireland look to make a big first impression". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  4. "Pakistan Women in British Isles 2000". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  5. "Ireland Women too good for Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  6. "Only Test, Pakistan Women tour of Ireland at Dublin, Jul 30-31 2000". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. "Remember when Ireland played their first Test?". The Cricket Monthly. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. "Ireland & Afghanistan awarded Test status by International Cricket Council". BBC News. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  9. "Ireland to make Test debut against Pakistan". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  10. "Ireland confirm Pakistan as first Test opponents". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  11. "Cricket Ireland Board Meeting October 25th, 2017". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  12. "Malahide to host Ireland's first Test match when they play Pakistan in May". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  13. "Ireland to play Pakistan in first Test match in May". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  14. "Ireland aim for upset on Test debut against Pakistan". Times of India. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  15. "England trio to supervise Dublin Test". The Dawn. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  16. "Ireland fight hard after following on". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  17. "Ireland recover to keep Pakistan contest alive after almighty collapse begins first ever Test innings". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  18. "Pakistan Confirmed as Ireland's First Test Opponents". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  19. "Reciprocal Test on cards for Ireland in Pakistan?". Cricket Europe. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  20. "Ireland open to touring Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  21. "Cricket Ireland chief 'excited' about Pakistan tour". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  22. "West Indies to tour Pakistan in March for T20 series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  23. "Shadab, Babar lead Pakistan to 3  0 sweep". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  24. "Workload management and its different strokes". Wisden India. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  25. "Sri Lanka moves ahead of Pakistan in sixth place". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  26. "Zimbabwe to host World Cup qualifier in March 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  27. "Afghanistan win ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  28. "'We've got to be on our game'  William Porterfield on Pakistan challenge". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  29. "Ireland captain William Porterfield hopes local conditions aid hosts during their Test debut against Pakistan". First Post. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  30. "Sarfraz feels privileged to be part of historic test against Ireland". Pakistan Observer. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  31. "Sarfraz Ahmed 'confident' youngsters will shine on Ireland, England tour". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  32. "An honour to play this historic Test  Sarfraz". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  33. "A lot of people have devoted their lives to make this happen  Porterfield". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  34. "Ireland announce 14-man squad for historic first Test against Pakistan". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  35. "Fakhar, Imam receive maiden call-ups to Ireland, England Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  36. "Yasir Shah out of Ireland, England Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  37. "Yasir Shah: Pakistan leg-spinner out of England and Ireland tour". BBC Sport. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  38. "Players for Pakistan Test Team Initial Camp". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  39. "PCB announces 16-member squad for England, Ireland series". Geo TV. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  40. "Five uncapped players in Pakistan's Test squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  41. "Selectors eye valuable game time for Ireland squad ahead of historic first Test Match". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  42. "Cricket Ireland: Graham Ford schedules warm-up games before Pakistan Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  43. "Boyd Rankin hits Irish first-class circuit ahead of historic Test". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  44. "Ireland omit George Dockrell for historic first men's Test against Pakistan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  45. "Ireland bank on pace for debut Test against Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  46. "Ireland v Pakistan: Day one of inaugural Test rained off". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  47. "Craig Young called up to Ireland squad for Pakistan Test". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  48. "Craig Young replaces Nathan Smith in Ireland squad for Pakistan Test". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  49. "Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood says conditions were not easy in Kent game". Kent Online. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  50. "Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq set for Test debut against Ireland". Times of India. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  51. "'Great achievement for Ireland cricket'  Sarfraz Ahmed". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  52. "Joyce faces 'pinch me' moment on cusp of Test debut". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  53. "Test Archives  The Opening Statsman". The Opening Statsman. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  54. "Top 5 moments from Ireland's Test debut". SA Cricket. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  55. "Ireland's Test bow delayed by persistent rain". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  56. "Ireland's first day of Test cricket entirely washed out". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  57. "Ireland lose €75,000 after historic first day of Test cricket is washed out". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  58. "Ireland vs Pakistan: Opening day washout costs hosts 75,000 euros". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  59. "Drama on Ireland's first ball in Test cricket, as sun-kissed Malahide witnesses history". The42. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  60. 1 2 "Ireland bowl first ball in Test cricket". SBS News. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  61. "Former Ashes quick set for 25-year first". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  62. "Records, Combined Test, ODI and T20I records: Individual records (captains, players, umpires), Representing two countries". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  63. 1 2 "'Definitely some nerves, but a lot of relief as well'  Ed Joyce". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  64. "Ireland up to task in Test debut". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  65. "Pakistan declare on 310-9 in only Ireland Test". Geo TV. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  66. "Ireland slump to 5-3 as Abbas strikes for Pakistan". IOL News. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  67. "Pakistan run riot after declaration to leave Ireland in disarray". Irish Times. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  68. "Ireland collapse to 5-3 against Pakistan after Sarfaraz and co declare at 310/9". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  69. "Ireland's batting frailties ruthlessly exposed by Pakistan at Malahide". The42. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  70. "Ireland follow-on after 130 all out against Pakistan". Dunya News. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  71. "Joyce and Porterfield give Ireland hope after follow-on enforced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  72. "Law 14  The follow-on". Lord's. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  73. "Ed Joyce shows resolves after Ireland follow on". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  74. "International Test: Pakistan on top as Ireland struggle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  75. "Brave Ireland battling to keep their Test debut alive against Pakistan". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  76. "Amir's double strike disrupts Ireland's revival". CricBuzz. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  77. "Statistics, Statsguru: Test Matches, Batting Records". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  78. "Mohammad Amir achieves another milestone". Business Recorder. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  79. "O'Brien leads the fightback as Ireland avoid innings defeat in debut Test". The42. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  80. "Kevin O'Brien Becomes 1st In History To Hit A Test 50 For Ireland". Pundit Arena. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  81. "Kevin O'Brien scores Ireland's first Test hundred". Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  82. "Records, Test matches: Batting records, Hundred on debut". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  83. "O'Brien becomes fourth batsman to score hundred in his country's debut Test". The News International. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  84. "Kevin O'Brien's maiden Test hundred allows Ireland to dream". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  85. "Historic O'Brien hundred fuels Ireland comeback". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  86. "'Bangalore century still No.1' says Kevin O'Brien after another slice of Ireland history". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  87. "'O'Brien-Thompson stand took the game away'  Azhar Ali". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  88. "Pakistan lose early wickets chasing 160 against Ireland". Geo TV. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  89. "Imam takes Pakistan over the line after Irish scare". Cricket365. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  90. "Ireland set Pakistan target of 160 after centurion Kevin O'Brien bowled out on first ball". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  91. "Pakistan repel Ireland fightback with five-wicket win". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  92. "Imam-ul-Haq guides Pakistan home after Ireland scare". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  93. "Ireland's maiden test ends in defeat by Pakistan". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  94. "Ireland v Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq prevents an Irish win on Test debut". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  95. 1 2 "Kevin O'Brien, Tim Murtagh storm into top 100". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  96. "Sarfraz Ahmed hails 'important' win after Pakistan pass fourth-innings test". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  97. "'It's not easy to play Ireland'  Sarfraz Ahmed". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  98. "'A hell of an effort'  Ireland go down fighting against Pakistan". RTE. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  99. ""There's going to be hundreds of kids aspiring to be Kevin O'Brien"  William Porterfield". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  100. "Ireland's test of character leaves Kevin O'Brien confident they can compete". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  101. 1 2 "Ireland set for fixture bonanza including marquee Tests against top-tier nations". The42. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  102. "Cricket Ireland boss Deutrom says creditable Test debut 'just the beginning'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  103. "Having proven they belong, the hard work for Ireland starts now". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  104. "Deutrom: Cricket in Ireland is on an upward curve". RTE. Retrieved 16 May 2018.