Cricket Ireland (CI) has confirmed that it is in discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the possibility of India’s men’s team touring Ireland in 2026. CI hopes to host a white-ball series next summer as India travel to England for five T20Is and three ODIs between July 1 and 19, 2026.
India have already toured Ireland three times since 2018 for short T20I series – in 2018, 2022 and 2023 – and each time drew large crowds at Malahide, Dublin.
Player Concerns Over Limited Fixtures
Ireland captain Paul Stirling recently expressed disappointment at the limited number of home internationals this summer, saying the side felt “underprepared” to face England in their ongoing T20I series. After Friday’s rain-out in Malahide, CI chair Brian MacNeice held a meeting with players and staff to address their concerns.
“The amount of cricket we’re playing in 2025 isn’t good enough to prepare you guys for international tournaments,” MacNeice said. “We’ve mapped out our plans for 2026 and 2027 and wanted the squad’s input on both the international and domestic schedules.”
Ireland’s third T20I against England on Sunday will be their ninth and final home men’s international of 2025, with four of the first eight abandoned due to rain. High costs of converting club grounds into international venues and lower broadcast revenue have also limited fixtures.
Future Tours and New Stadium Plans
According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, Ireland are set to host New Zealand (one Test), Bangladesh (three ODIs and three T20Is) and Afghanistan (one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is) next summer. MacNeice said Test cricket will return to Ireland in 2026 once scheduling variables are resolved.
He also confirmed progress on Ireland’s new stadium at Abbotstown, on Dublin’s outskirts, and described positive talks with ECB officials about the 2030 men’s T20 World Cup, which Ireland will co-host with England and Scotland.
MacNeice said he supports the idea of a two-division World Test Championship featuring Ireland, and added that the search for a new chief executive to replace Warren Deutrom is on track, with a recommendation expected in late October.
European T20 Premier League Update
MacNeice has also been named chair of the board for the planned European T20 Premier League (ETPL). The tournament was originally scheduled to launch in 2025 but has been postponed to 2026 after struggling to secure franchise buyers.
About the Author
