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Ireland begins ODI series against Afghanistan, eyes World Cup qualification

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 3, 2026, 5:15 PM

Last updated Aug 3, 2026

Ireland begins ODI series against Afghanistan, eyes World Cup qualification
Summary

Ireland's five-match ODI series against Afghanistan starts Wednesday, marking the team's preparation for the 2027 World Cup qualifying tournament. New head coach Gary Wilson emphasizes the squad's focus on making history, noting Ireland's last World Cup appearance was in 2015. The bid for qualification comes with challenges, as Ireland sits 12th in the ODI rankings and has struggled with limited 50-over matches in recent years. Despite this, Wilson aims for ambitious results after their recent success in a T20 series against India.

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Key Details
  • •The ODI series starts on August 3, 2026.
  • •Gary Wilson is Ireland's new head coach.
  • •Ireland last qualified for the World Cup in 2015.
  • •The team has played only 15 ODIs in three years since 2023.
  • •Ireland recently achieved a historic T20 series win over India.
Latest Updates
  • 5:22 PMYahoo Sports — Ireland 'laser-focused' on World Cup qualification
  • 5:15 PMBBC Sport — Ireland 'laser-focused' on World Cup qualification
What they're saying
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Ireland's five-game ODI series against Afghanistan this week marks the start of their preparations for next year's World Cup qualifying tournament.

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Ireland's five-game ODI series against Afghanistan this week marks the start of their preparations for next year's World Cup qualifying tournament.

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