Afghanistan seek 4-0 sweep as Ireland and Afghanistan meet in fifth ODI at Belfast on August 15
Afghanistan, having clinched the ODI series against Ireland, travel to Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast for the fifth and final match on Saturday, August 15, with the game scheduled to start at 3:15 PM IST.
Afghanistan secured an unassailable 3-0 lead after the fourth ODI, a high-scoring encounter in which Ibrahim Zadran and Sediq Atal both hit centuries and Sediqullah Atal was named man of the match for his 143 off 120 balls. Yamin Ahmadzai returned figures of 4/71 and Rashid Khan took 3/49 as Afghanistan recorded a 42-run victory in that game. Ireland displayed improved batting in the fourth match but the performance was insufficient, with the report noting they need to change plans to avoid a series clean sweep.
In head-to-head numbers cited, Afghanistan have now won 21 ODIs against Ireland; the two teams have met in 36 ODIs in total, with Ireland winning 13 and two matches called off. These figures are presented as the historical context for the series outcome.
Weather and pitch observations for the Belfast fixture include a forecast of a cloudy afternoon, a maximum temperature of 18°C and average humidity of 65 percent. After the conditions and surface in the fourth match, the preview expects another good batting surface for the final ODI. The report also notes spinners have troubled Ireland on slow wickets, leading to the preparation of a flatter deck for the fourth ODI, while the bounce and pace were described as pretty good and batters looked comfortable.
Ireland’s listed XI in the source is: Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Benjamin Calitz, Mark Adair, Gavin Hoey, :Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough. Afghanistan’s listed XI is: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah (c), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.
Dream11 recommendations provided in the source identify batters as Cade Carmichael, Sediq Atal, Ibrahim Zadran and Andrew Balbirnie; all-rounders as Curtis Campher and Azmatullah Omarzai; and bowlers as Mark Adair, Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfa and Gavin Hoey. Captain choices listed include: Captain First-Choice: Ibrahim Zadran; Captain Second-Choice: Curtis Campher; Vice-Captain First-Choice: Sediq Atal; Vice-captain Second-Choice: Cade Carmichael. An alternate set shows Captain First-Choice: Rashid Khan; Captain Second-Choice: Rahmanullah Gurbaz; Vice-Captain First-Choice: Azmatullah Omarzai; Vice-captain Second-Choice: Allah Ghazanfar.
The source’s stated prediction backs Afghanistan to win the final ODI as they aim for a 4-0 series whitewash. The fifth ODI of the Afghanistan tour of Ireland 2026 takes place on August 15 (Saturday) at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.