DUBLIN (Web Desk) - Ireland will play just their second Test match against Afghanistan when the two teams square off in Abu Dhabi in late February. Andrew Balbirnie will captain the Test side, while Paul Stirling will captain the white-ball teams.
Uncapped seamer Matthew Foster has been named in the Test and ODI squads.
Aside from Foster, the likes of Barry McCarthy, Theo van Woerkom and Craig Young have also been named in the Test squad and could potentially make their debuts.
“We have played a lot of cricket over the last decade in this part of the world, so the conditions should be somewhat familiar to the players – albeit, predominantly in the white ball formats," Andrew White, the Ireland men's team selector said.
"While there has been a 12-week gap, the squad should carry some confidence and momentum into this series from the successful tour of Zimbabwe in December.
“Preparations have been going well, the squad had a solid training camp in Spain last week and we will be sending the players to the UAE five days ahead of the upcoming series to acclimatise and train in Middle Eastern conditions.
“I think it’s fair to say that our squad has gone through an enormous transformation since these two teams last met in a three-format series in 2019. Take the Test Match - only five of the starting XI in 2019 are in this squad, and while we have a younger age profile today than the 2019 side, it is fair to say that the XI going into this Test will likely be far more experienced and familiar with the rhythms and flows of multi-day cricket."
Test squad: Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young
ODI squad: Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling (c), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young
T20I squad: Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling (c), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young