Ireland is gearing up for a five-match One Day International (ODI) series in Namibia later this month, as part of their preparation for next year’s World Cup Qualifier. Having missed out on the last two editions of the 50-over World Cup, Ireland is determined to clinch one of four qualifying spots for the 2027 tournament, with the Qualifiers set in South Africa and Namibia come February-March.
The senior team will engage in five ODIs in Windhoek before the Ireland Wolves, a squad featuring many of the same players, travel to Zimbabwe for a series comprising two four-day matches and five one-day fixtures scheduled for November.
Notably, this series marks the first time Ireland’s men’s team meets Namibia in an ODI encounter. Their most recent clash was during the 2021 T20 World Cup in Sharjah. Graeme West, Ireland’s high-performance director, highlighted the significance of these tours, stating, “The tours provide great opportunities for our players to familiarise themselves with the conditions and some of their potential opponents.”
Ireland’s squad remains largely unchanged from the team that faced Afghanistan in August, except for the inclusion of left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys. Although Humphreys hasn’t played an ODI since February 2025, he has shown success in T20 internationals.
Six of Ireland’s players—Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Ross and Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, and George Dockrell—will participate in the ILT20 tournament, following an arrangement between Cricket Ireland and the Emirates Cricket Board, kicking off on November 21.
After the Namibia tour, all except Andy Balbirnie and Andy McBrine will head over to Zimbabwe for the Wolves tour. Mark Adair will partake in the red-ball format, while the five ILT20 players will take a brief rest before travelling to the UAE. Josh Little, dealing with recent form and fitness challenges, is a significant inclusion in the Zimbabwe squad for the one-day matches, with Humphreys leading the Wolves.
West further remarked, “The squads selected for the senior men’s and Wolves tours feature the best of Irish men’s current and emerging talent, and the chance for such a large cohort of players getting away during the winter months to play outdoors on grass in warmer conditions is a welcome one.”
Ireland Men’s Tour to Namibia:
Squad: Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Jordan Neill, Paul Stirling (captain), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (vice-captain/wk)
Fixtures: October 22 – 1st ODI, October 24 – 2nd ODI, October 27 – 3rd ODI, October 30 – 4th ODI, November 1 – 5th ODI (all Windhoek).
Ireland Wolves Tour to Zimbabwe:
Squad: Mark Adair (red-ball only), Ben Calitz, Cade Carmichael, David Delany (white-ball only), Gareth Delany (white-ball only), Chris Defreitas, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan (red-ball only), Matthew Hollard, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little (white-ball only), Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Jordan Neill, Tim Tector, Reuben Wilson (red-ball only).
Fixtures: November 6-9 – 1st four-day match, November 13-16 – 1st four-day match, November 19 – 1st one-day match, November 21 – 2nd one-day match, November 23 – 3rd one-day match, November 26 – 4th one-day match, November 28 – 5th one-day match (venues TBC).
