Afghanistan lead Ireland 2-0 as fourth ODI in Belfast set for August 12
Afghanistan hold a 2-0 lead over Ireland in the ongoing ODI series and will face Ireland in the fourth ODI at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Wednesday, August 12, with the match scheduled to start at 3:15 PM IST.
Rashid Khan produced two Man of the Match performances and has taken 9 wickets in two games; he also scored an unbeaten 37 off 43 balls to complete a tricky chase in the third ODI, a sequence that has secured direct qualification for Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup 2027 and left them with an unassailable advantage in the series.
Ireland's batting has struggled against spin during the series, with a ninth-wicket partnership of 76 between Jai Moondra and Gavin Hoey rescuing them in the third match; Afghanistan will be aiming to wrap up the series in the fourth ODI.
The forecast for Wednesday in Belfast is cloudy with a maximum temperature around 24°C and average humidity of 63 percent. Civil Service Cricket Club is described as a tricky wicket to bat on: early assistance for fast bowlers with the new ball, increased movement in overcast conditions, more grip for spinners with the old ball, and a suggested par score of about 245-255.
Ireland's listed XI for the fourth ODI is Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Benjamin Calitz, Mark Adair, Gavin Hoey, Jai Moondra, Byron McDonough. Afghanistan's XI is Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah (c), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Dream11 recommendations provided include wicket-keepers Ben Calitz and Rahmanullah Gurbaz; batters Cade Carmichael, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Ibrahim Zadran; all-rounders Curtis Campher and Azmatullah Omarzai; bowlers Mark Adair, Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar and Gavin Hoey. The article lists two captain/vice-captain option sets for fantasy teams: one set naming Rashid Khan as Captain First-Choice with Ibrahim Zadran as Captain Second-Choice and Mark Adair as Vice-Captain First-Choice with Cade Carmichael as Vice-Captain Second-Choice, and an alternate set naming Azmatullah Omarzai as Captain First-Choice with Curtis Campher as Captain Second-Choice and Rahmanullah Gurbaz as Vice-Captain First-Choice with Allah Ghazanfar as Vice-Captain Second-Choice.
The piece concludes by backing Afghanistan to win the fourth ODI, citing Ireland's vulnerability against spin and Afghanistan's recent success exploiting that weakness.
The fourth ODI of the Afghanistan tour of Ireland 2026 takes place on August 12 (Wednesday) at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast, with live updates and coverage available via Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and through the Khel Now Android and iOS apps; the article is written by Karan Rawat.
