Ireland's Sarah Keane Appointed to ICC Afghanistan Task Force Ahead of ODI Series Against Afghanistan Cricket Ireland has announced that CEO Sarah Keane has been appointed to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Afghanistan Task Force, a move tied to the upcoming men’s One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan. The five-match series, set to begin on Wednesday, marks Ireland’s first ODI of 2026. The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Taliban’s treatment of Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team, which has been forced to flee the country due to restrictions on women participating in sports. The ICC’s involvement in the task force underscores growing international concern over the situation in Afghanistan. Keane’s appointment follows discussions between Cricket Ireland’s leadership and the Afghan women’s team, which have been held in London. A spokesperson for the governing body stated that the Afghan women’s team has expressed a desire to use the attention generated by their men’s team’s matches to highlight the ongoing challenges faced by women in the country. The team has emphasized that their focus is on drawing global attention to the erosion of women’s rights rather than obstructing their men’s cricket activities. Cricket Ireland’s statement highlighted its commitment to supporting the displaced Afghan women’s team. The organization noted that Keane and Chair Brian MacNeice have been instrumental in advocating for the team’s interests at the ICC Board. This advocacy has led to the ICC’s decision to appoint Keane to the Afghanistan Task Force, which is tasked with ensuring continued funding for the Afghan women’s program, creating a clear pathway for their participation in ICC events, and providing ongoing support.#icc #cricket_ireland #sarah_keane #afghanistan_women_cricket_team #icc_afi_task_force
Ireland risk ECB ire by agreeing to play five matches against Afghanistan Ireland’s cricket board has faced potential repercussions from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after agreeing to host a five-match one-day international series against Afghanistan this summer. The decision has sparked controversy, as the ECB has consistently refused to schedule bilateral fixtures against Afghanistan due to concerns over the Taliban regime’s policies in the country. The ECB’s stance, which aligns with the UK government’s position, has been criticized by Cricket Ireland, which has opted to develop closer ties with the Afghanistan Cricket Board. The series, which begins on Wednesday in Bready, Northern Ireland, includes five one-day internationals and is part of a reciprocal agreement that also involves a Test and three ODIs in the United Arab Emirates next March. This arrangement has drawn the ECB’s ire, as it undermines their policy of avoiding fixtures against Afghanistan outside ICC-sanctioned events. The ECB’s chair, Richard Thompson, has labeled the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s participation in sports as “gender apartheid,” a term that has been central to the organization’s refusal to engage with Afghanistan in bilateral matches. England’s reluctance to face Afghanistan has been evident in past decisions. While the ECB previously allowed a one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s as preparation for home series in 2019 and 2023, they have since opted for a warm-up Test against Bangladesh instead. This shift highlights the ECB’s ongoing hesitancy to engage with Afghanistan, despite the country’s status as an ICC full member.#ecb #cricket_ireland #afghanistan_cricket_board #talon #bready_northern_ireland
ईरलैंड क्रिकेट टीम के हेड कोच हेनरिक मलान ने भारत के खिलाफ ऐतिहासिक टी20 सीरीज जीत के अगले ही दिन पद छोड़ दिया भारत के खिलाफ अपनी टी20 सीरीज में ऐतिहासिक जीत के बाद ईरलैंड क्रिकेट टीम के मुख्य कोच हेनरिक मलान ने अपने पद से इस्तीफा दे दिया। इस फैसले की आधिकारिक पुष्टि क्रिकेट ईरलैंड द्वारा की गई है, जिसमें कहा गया है कि यह फैसला दोनों पक्षों की सहमति से पहले से तय रणनीति का हिस्सा था। मलान के कार्यकाल का आखिरी मैच रविवार (28 जून) को बेलफास्ट में खेले गए मुकाबले में आयरलैंड के भारत को एक रन से हराकर टी20 सीरीज पर 2-0 से कब्जा कर लेने के बाद हुआ था। इससे पहले इसी सीरीज के पहले मुकाबले में आयरलैंड ने भारत को 34 रनों से हराया था, जो भारत के खिलाफ आयरलैंड की पहली जीत रही। मलान के अनुबंध का अंत 2027 के शुरुआत तक था, लेकिन उन्होंने उससे पहले ही जिम्मेदारी से मुक्त होने का निर्णय ले लिया। अब क्रिकेट ईरलैंड ने पूर्व विकेटकीपर गैरी विल्सन को नए हेड कोच के रूप में नियुक्त किया है। विल्सन अगस्त में अफगानिस्तान के खिलाफ होने वाली पांच मैचों की वनडे सीरीज के जरिए अपनी नई पारी का आगाज करेंगे। मलान ने अपने फैसले पर कहा कि आयरलैंड क्रिकेट के साथ बिताया समय उनके जीवन का बेहद खास अध्याय रहेगा। उन्होंने कहा, "इन खिलाड़ियों, सहयोगी स्टाफ और पूरे आयरिश क्रिकेट समुदाय के साथ काम करना मेरे लिए सम्मान की बात रही। खिलाड़ियों, कोचों और सपोर्ट स्टाफ ने जिस तरह हमारे साझे विजन पर भरोसा किया, उसके लिए मैं उनका आभारी हूं। यह सफर हमेशा मेरी यादों का हिस्सा रहेगा। मुझे लगता है कि अब इस जिम्मेदारी से हटने का यही सही समय है।" मलान के कार्यकाल में आयरलैंड ने कई ऐतिहासिक उपलब्धियां हासिल कीं। 2022 के टी20 वर्ल्ड कप में इंग्लैंड जैसी मजबूत टीम को हराकर आयरलैंड ने बड़ा उलटफेर किया। 2024 में टीम ने अफगानिस्तान के खिलाफ अपना पहला टेस्ट मैच जीता, और उसी साल बेलफास्ट में जिम्बाब्वे को हराकर आयरलैंड ने घरेलू सरजमीं पर भी पहली टेस्ट जीत दर्ज की। अब भारत के खिलाफ पहली टी20 सीरीज जीत के साथ मलान का कार्यकाल समाप्त हो गया। क्रिकेट ईरलैंड के हाई-परफॉर्मेंस डाय...#t20_series #cricket_ireland #henrik_malan #gerry_wilson #belFAST
Jai Moondra's Cricket Journey and Call-Up to Ireland's T20 Squad Against India Jai Moondra, a 29-year-old left-arm fast bowler and all-rounder, was stunned when National Men’s Selector Andrew White called him into the Ireland Men’s T20 squad for a series against India. The news, delivered by phone last Friday, marked a significant milestone in Moondra’s career. Born in Tonk, a small town near Jaipur, India, Moondra moved to Ireland in 2021 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Electronics and Communication. Despite his Indian roots, he has embraced his role as an Irish cricketer, driven by a passion for the sport and a desire to represent his adopted country. Moondra’s cricket journey began at a young age, with early exposure to the game leading him to join an academy to refine his fast bowling technique. During his time there, he also developed his batting skills and experimented with spin bowling, earning a classification as a top-order batter and left-arm spinner by age 16. However, he chose to prioritize his studies, stepping back from cricket to focus on academics. After completing his degree in 2019, he faced a dilemma: accept a corporate job or pursue cricket full-time. Opting for the latter, he quit his corporate role and returned to the sport with renewed determination. At 24, Moondra relocated to Ireland and joined Leinster Cricket Club in Dublin. His dedication paid off when he became part of the Irish Senior Cup-winning team in 2023. Reflecting on the experience, Moondra described the domestic cricket scene as both competitive and welcoming, emphasizing the importance of a supportive environment for growth. “Playing in the Irish domestic scene is very exciting,” he said. “You have competitive teams and a very welcoming environment—good people and a good atmosphere.#tonk #cricket_ireland #jai_moondra #andrew_white #leinster_cricket_club
Rahul Dravid Becomes Owner of ETPL's Dublin Guardians Team Rahul Dravid, the former India cricket captain and T20 World Cup-winning coach, has been announced as the owner of the Dublin Guardians, one of the six teams in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). The league, set to launch in August 2026, will feature franchises from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. This marks the first ICC-sanctioned multi-country franchise T20 league in Europe, organized in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. Dravid’s ownership of the Dublin Guardians aligns with his long-standing commitment to cricket development. In a statement, he emphasized the league’s potential to grow the sport in Europe by fostering grassroots initiatives and creating pathways for emerging talent across Ireland and the continent. “Dublin already has a passionate cricketing community and enormous potential for growth,” he said. “Nurturing the next generation has always been important to me, and I believe ETPL can play a meaningful role in that journey.” The ETPL’s ownership structure includes a mix of cricketing legends and Bollywood personalities. Alongside Dravid, the league is co-owned by Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan. Other notable owners include Glenn Maxwell (co-owner of the Irish Wolves), Steve Waugh (Amsterdam Flames), Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills (Edinburgh Castle Rockers), Chris Gayle (Glasgow Cosmic), and Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen (Rotterdam Dockers). Du Plessis and Maxwell will also participate as players, joining a roster that includes Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, and Liam Livingstone.#rahul_dravid #dublin_guardians #etpl #cricket_ireland #cricket_scotland
Rahul Dravid Acquires Dublin Guardians Franchise for European T20 Tournament India cricket icon Rahul Dravid has secured a significant role in the expansion of global cricket by becoming co-owner of the Dublin Guardians, the final franchise for the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). The 53-year-old, renowned for his illustrious playing career and subsequent coaching tenure with the Indian national team from 2021 to 2024, has joined an Indian consortium to acquire the team, which will compete in the inaugural edition of the tournament. Dravid’s involvement marks a pivotal moment for the ETPL, which aims to elevate the profile of T20 cricket across Europe. Dravid, who played 164 Test matches and 344 one-day internationals for India, expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, “It’s absolutely brilliant to be involved. When I first heard about this it was really exciting.” He highlighted his admiration for the passion and energy of European cricket, emphasizing the potential for growth and development. “I’ve seen the passion of grassroots cricket and the talent showcased in the T20 World Cup. That’s something we can grow and build. It would be a dream to see the talent on the world stage.” The Dublin Guardians will be captained by former India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from Test cricket in December 2024 and stepped away from the Indian Premier League last summer. Ashwin’s transition to the ETPL aligns with his desire to continue competing at the highest level while contributing to the league’s growth. His leadership is expected to bring a blend of experience and strategic acumen to the team.#ravichandran_ashwin #rahul_dravid #dublin_guardians #etpl #cricket_ireland
