Ireland to play two T20 internationals against South Africa at Stormont

Stormont will play host to two of Ireland’s headline T20 internationals against South Africa this summer.
Andy McBrine bowling during an Ireland fixture against Afghanistan at Stormont in 2018.Andy McBrine bowling during an Ireland fixture against Afghanistan at Stormont in 2018.
Andy McBrine bowling during an Ireland fixture against Afghanistan at Stormont in 2018.

As part of the 2021 home fixture programme of 12 matches announced on Tuesday, Cricket Ireland revealed that the touring South Africans will play in Belfast on July 22 and 25.

If the tour goes ahead, it will be the first time South Africa have played in Ireland for 14 years.

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South Africa are also playing a one-day international series against Ireland, with three matches taking place at Malahide between July 11 and 16.

The T20 series also starts at Malahide on July 20 before moving north to Belfast.

Stormont will also host all three of Ireland’s one-day internationals against Zimbabwe between August 6 and 11.

The Zimbabweans will also play in three T20 internationals at Bready on August 15, 17 and 20.

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Warren Deutrom, chief executive of Cricket Ireland, said: “The year 2021 is certainly full of optimism, but of course we can’t ignore the great uncertainties still in the world, and our planning is trying to factor that in as much as possible.

“We need to plan for matches to proceed but with the background knowledge that circumstances might see further postponements. We have some massive targets this year, whether it’s men’s World Cup Super League matches and building towards the T20 World Cup in October, or else the Women’s World Cup Qualifier, and regional qualifying for the next Women’s T20 World Cup.

“Our international and domestic match planning needs to be tailored to preparing for those major milestones, as well as reacting as quickly as possible to the likely setbacks COVID-19 may present.”

He added: “For our senior men, there are six World Cup Super League matches included in the schedule, in which we welcome back South Africa who last played here 14 years ago, while we shall be resuming our competitive clashes with Zimbabwe, who played a great series here in 2019.”