Ireland cricket team set to make Test debut in April next year

Ireland cricket team is scheduled to play a Test against Pakistan next year, which could well be their maiden game in the longest format.

Ireland are set to make their Test debut in April 2018 against Pakistan cricket team, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the development in one of its latest release on Wednesday.

Ireland cricket team is all set to make its Test debut in April 2018. (Getty Images)

The ICC, in a release, confirmed that Pakistan’s next ‘red-ball’ match will be against Ireland. They’re all set to tour England for two Tests in the first half of 2018, which is when the Sarfraz Ahmed-led team is said to be playing a Test against Ireland.

(Read | Australia cricket team bus attacked with rock in Guwahati)

“Pakistan’s next red-ball match is against Ireland in April, which will be followed by two away Tests in England,” said ICC in its release which also informed about Pakistan’s slip in the rankings for Test teams.

Pakistan suffered its first-ever series defeat in their adopted home of United Arab Emirates (UAE), when a better-prepared and inspired Sri Lankan team hammered them (2-0) in the recently-concluded series. The defeat saw Pakistan slipping to a lowly seventh spot in the ICC Test Rankings.

Ireland, alongwith Afghanistan, were awarded Test status by the ICC in June this year. Ahead of the Test to be played in their home conditions, Ireland will certainly draw confidence from their shocking victory over Pakistan in the 2007 Cricket World Cup in West Indies.