The Ireland cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates in January 2021 to play three One Day International (ODI) matches against Afghanistan.[1][2] The ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.[3][4] All of the matches were played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.[5][6]
| Ireland against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2020–21 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Afghanistan | Ireland | ||
| Dates | 21 – 26 January 2021 | ||
| Captains | Asghar Afghan | Andrew Balbirnie | |
| One Day International series | |||
| Results | Afghanistan won the 3-match series 3–0 | ||
| Most runs | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (180) | Paul Stirling (285) | |
| Most wickets | Naveen-ul-Haq (8) | Andy McBrine (6) | |
| Player of the series | Paul Stirling (Ire) | ||
The Afghanistan team's visa applications for travel to the UAE were delayed,[7] resulting in the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) making contingency plans for the series to be played in Oman.[8] However, on 5 January 2021, the ACB confirmed that the team would be travelling to the UAE per the original schedule.[9] The start of the series was moved back three days from the original schedule,[10] due to the visa issues and a ten-day quarantine period in place in the UAE.[11]
In the opening match, debutant Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 127 runs to help Afghanistan win by 16 runs.[12] In the second match, Rahmat Shah scored a century, with Afghanistan winning by seven wickets to take an unassailable lead in the series.[13] Afghanistan won the third ODI by 36 runs, to win the series 3–0.[14]
Squads
| ODIs | |
|---|---|
 Afghanistan[15] |  Ireland[16] |
David Delany was ruled out of the series due to a knee injury, with Josh Little joining Ireland's squad.[17] Little was originally named in the team, but had to self-isolate after a positive COVID-19 result from a close contact.[18] Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman were all playing in the Big Bash League in Australia, before leaving the tournament to join the rest of the Afghanistan squad.[19] On 11 January 2021, Shane Getkate was added to Ireland's squad, as a replacement for David Delany,[20] and Conor Olphert was added to their squad as a net bowler.[21]
Tour match
Ahead of the ODI series, the two teams played in unofficial warm-up match, with Afghanistan winning by 23 runs.[22]
16 January 2021 Scorecard |
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- Ireland won the toss and elected to field.
- The match was reduced to 45 overs per side.
ODI series
1st ODI
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- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai (Afg) both made their ODI debuts.
- Andy McBrine (Ire) took his 50th wicket and his first five-wicket haul in ODIs.[23]
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz became the first batsman for Afghanistan to score a century on their ODI debut.[24]
- World Cup Super League points: Afghanistan 10, Ireland 0.
2nd ODI
v | ||
- Ireland won the toss and elected to bat.
- World Cup Super League points: Afghanistan 10, Ireland 0.
3rd ODI
v | ||
- Ireland won the toss and elected to field.
- Paul Stirling scored his 12th century, the most by a cricketer for Ireland in ODIs.[25]
- World Cup Super League points: Afghanistan 10, Ireland 0.