Ireland to host Afghanistan in first ODI at Bready on August 5, 2026
Ireland will host Afghanistan in the first match of a five-ODI series at Bready Cricket Club in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, with the game due to start at 3:15 PM IST. Paul Stirling and Mark Adair return to Ireland’s side, while Rahmat Shah has replaced Hashmatullah Shahidi as Afghanistan’s new captain ahead of his first match in charge.
Ireland arrive at the series following a historic T20I series win over India and will play five ODIs split between Bready and Belfast. The first encounter is scheduled for Bready, one of Ireland’s newest international venues, and the two sides will contest a full-length white-ball series. Rahmat Shah will lead Afghanistan in his debut match as captain, and Stirling’s and Adair’s returns are noted as bolstering Ireland’s selection options.
Across their history in ODIs the pair have met 32 times: Afghanistan have won 18 matches, Ireland 13, and one game was washed out. Those head-to-head numbers form the statistical backdrop to a series in which Ireland will aim to use home conditions while Afghanistan seek an early advantage under new leadership.
Weather forecasts for Bready predict light rain on Wednesday, a maximum daytime temperature of 15°C and average humidity near 80%. Bready Cricket Club has hosted four ODIs with an average first-innings score of 255 and three of those matches won by teams chasing, and the preview notes that with rain expected batting second could be the preferable option.
Ireland’s listed XI for the first ODI is: Paul Stirling (C), Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Mark Adair, Gavin Hoey, Byron McDonough. Afghanistan’s XI is: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil, Nangialai Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Yamin Ahmadzai.
Dream11 and fantasy recommendations supplied include wicket-keepers Lorcan Tucker and Rahmanullah Gurbaz; batters Paul Stirling and Ibrahim Zadran; all-rounders Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Curtis Campher; and bowlers Mark Adair and Rashid Khan. Captain and vice-captain suggestions listed are: Captain First-Choice: Mark Adair || Captain Second-Choice: Rashid Khan; Vice-Captain First-Choice: Rahmanullah Gurbaz || Vice-captain Second-Choice: George Dockrell. An alternative combination provided reads: Captain First-Choice: Azmatullah Omarzai || Captain Second-Choice: Ibrahim Zadran; Vice-Captain First-Choice: Curtis Campher || Vice-captain Second-Choice: Lorcan Tucker.
Although Ireland will play at home, the preview highlights their inconsistency in the 50-over format and concludes with a preference for Afghanistan to win the opening ODI. The first ODI of the Afghanistan tour of Ireland 2026 is confirmed for August 5 (Wednesday) at Bready Cricket Club in Northern Ireland.