The Ireland cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates in January 2021 to play four One Day International (ODI) matches between 8 and 18 January 2021.[1][2] The matches served as preparation for Ireland's World Cup Super League fixtures against Afghanistan in the UAE.[3][4][5]
| Irish cricket team in the UAE in 2020–21 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Ireland | ||
| Dates | 8 – 18 January 2021 | ||
| Captains | Ahmed Raza | Andrew Balbirnie | |
| One Day International series | |||
| Results | 4-match series drawn 1–1 | ||
| Most runs | Chundangapoyil Rizwan (110) | Paul Stirling (135) | |
| Most wickets |
Ahmed Raza (3) Zahoor Khan (3) | Simi Singh (5) | |
| Player of the series | Curtis Campher (Ire) | ||
In the first fixture, the UAE won by six wickets to record their first win against Ireland in an ODI match.[6] The second match of the series was originally scheduled to take place on 10 January 2021.[7] However, following a positive test for COVID-19 within the UAE team,[8] the match was rescheduled for 16 January 2021.[9] Two UAE cricketers had also tested positive ahead of the first ODI match.[10] On 11 January 2021, a fourth positive case was reported in the UAE squad.[11][12] The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) issued a statement saying that the match scheduled to take place on 12 January 2021 had been suspended.[13][14]
On 13 January 2021, the ECB issued a further statement saying that the third ODI, scheduled to be played the following day, had also been suspended.[15] No new COVID-19 cases had been reported, and the ECB and Cricket Ireland were continuing their discussions with regards to rescheduling the affected matches.[16] Despite no new cases,[17] the fourth match was suspended on 15 January 2021.[18] Both cricket boards were looking at the possibility of playing a match on 18 January 2021.[19] On 17 January 2021, it was confirmed that a second ODI match would be played the following day.[20] Ireland won the rescheduled ODI by 112 runs, therefore drawing the series 1–1.[21]
Squads
edit| ODIs | |
|---|---|
 United Arab Emirates[22]
|
 Ireland[23]
|
On 28 December 2020, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) announced a 19-man training squad in preparation for the series.[24] The ECB announced their squad for the series on 6 January 2021.[25] David Delany was ruled out of the series due to a knee injury, with Josh Little joining Ireland's squad.[26] Little was originally named in the team, but had to self-isolate after a positive COVID-19 result from a close contact.[27] On 11 January 2021, Shane Getkate was added to Ireland's squad, as a replacement for David Delany,[28] and Conor Olphert was added to their squad as a net bowler.[29]
Two UAE players, Chirag Suri and Aryan Lakra, tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the series, and were both ruled out of the first ODI match.[30] On 9 January 2021, Alishan Sharafu became the third UAE player to test positive for COVID-19, resulting in the second ODI match being rescheduled.[31]
ODI series
edit1st ODI
editv
|
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- Ireland won the toss and elected to bat.
- Kashif Daud and Alishan Sharafu (UAE) both made their ODI debuts.
- Paul Stirling scored his 10th century in ODIs,[32] and became the second Irish batsman to score 9,000 international runs.[33]
- Chundangapoyil Rizwan and Muhammad Usman (UAE) both scored their first centuries in ODIs.[34] Their partnership of 184 was the highest partnership for any wicket for the United Arab Emirates in ODIs.[35]
2nd ODI
edit3rd ODI
edit4th ODI
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- United Arab Emirates won the toss and elected to field.
- Kevin O'Brien (Ire) played in his 150th ODI.[36]
- Simi Singh (Ire) took his first five-wicket haul in ODIs.[37]
References
edit- ^ "UAE Cricket to play Cricket Ireland in a 4-match ODI series at Zayed Cricket Stadium Abu Dhabi in January 2021". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Interview with Stuart Barnes, training resumes and dates of upcoming fixtures confirmed". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "No Porterfield or Wilson for UAE tour". Cricket Europe. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "George Dockrell, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin dropped for Ireland ODIs against Afghanistan, UAE". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Balbirnie not heading to Abu Dhabi for a holiday as Ireland's cricketers reconvene for first time in five months". Belfast Telegraph. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ "CP Rizwan and Mohammed Usman hit centuries as UAE seal stunning win over Ireland". The National. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Another Covid-19 case in UAE camp pushes Ireland ODI to January 16". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Positive COVID-19 test sees second ODI rescheduled". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Ireland v UAE: Sunday's ODI in Abu Dhabi off after hosts have positive Covid case". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "UAE vice-captain Chirag Suri and Aryan Lakra test positive for coronavirus ahead of Ireland match". The National. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "UAE-Ireland ODI called off again after Covid-19 outbreak worsens". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "UAE-Ireland ODI in Abu Dhabi postponed for second time after hosts return further positive Covid cases". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Emirates Cricket Board Statement: COVID-19 update January 11". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Next ODI suspended after further COVID-19 cases". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Emirates Cricket Board Statement - UAE v Ireland January 14". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ "Tomorrow's ODI suspended; no new cases". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ "Saturday's ODI suspended, hopes for Monday clash". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Emirates Cricket Board Statement - CoVid19 Update January 15 2021". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "UAE-Ireland ODI series held up again despite no further Covid positives". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Good news for Ireland as go ahead given for one-day international against UAE". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "UAE v Ireland: Simi Singh stars as visitors earn 112-run win to level ODI series". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Emirates Cricket Board announce team to play Ireland in 4-ODI series". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Ireland names 16-man squad to face UAE and Afghanistan in back-to-back series' in January". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Emirates Cricket Board announce training squad ahead of Bilateral series with Ireland". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Zahoor Khan and Chirag Suri fit for UAE series against Ireland". The National. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Injury forces change to Irish squad ahead of UAE series". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Ireland v Afghanistan: This month's series to start three days later than scheduled". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Shane Getkate called into Ireland squad for UAE, Afghanistan ODIs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Shane Getkate and Conor Olphert fly out to Abu Dhabi to join squad". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Two UAE players test positive for Covid-19 ahead of Ireland ODIs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Alishan Sharafu third UAE player to test positive for Covid-19". The National. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Ireland suffer ODI loss to United Arab Emirates despite Paul Stirling's unbeaten hundred". Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Kenny, John (8 January 2021). "Ireland fall to UAE defeat in first game of One Day International series". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Stirling 131* in vain as Usman, Rizwan centuries take UAE past Ireland in 1st ODI". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "UAE claim the honours against rusty Ireland". Cricket Europe. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Ireland crush UAE to square series, with Singh on song". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Sensational Singh spins Ireland to victory". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.