Irish cricket team in the United Arab Emirates in 2025–26
The Ireland cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates in January 2026 to play Italy and the United Arab Emirates.[1][2] The tour consisted of three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against Italy, followed by two matches against the UAE.[3][4] All three teams are using the games as preparation for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup tournament.[5] In November 2025, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the fixtures for the tour.[6] The Italy series was played at The Sevens Stadium.[4] The series against UAE was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.[7]
Squads
 Ireland[8]
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 Italy[9]
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 United Arab Emirates[10]
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|---|---|---|
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Ireland v Italy T20I series
| Irish cricket team against Italy in the UAE in 2025–26 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Ireland | Italy | ||
| Dates | 23 – 26 January 2026 | ||
| Captains | Paul Stirling | Wayne Madsen | |
| Twenty20 International series | |||
| Results | Ireland won the 3-match series 2–1 | ||
| Most runs | Harry Tector (150) | Anthony Mosca (115) | |
| Most wickets | Matthew Humphreys (6) | Grant Stewart (6) | |
1st T20I
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- Ireland won the toss and elected to field.
- JJ Smuts played his first T20I for Italy after having previously played 13 T20Is for South Africa, becoming the 23rd cricketer to represent two international teams in men's T20Is.[11]
- This was the first men's T20I to be played at this venue.[12]
2nd T20I
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- Italy won the toss and elected to field.
3rd T20I
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- Italy won the toss and elected to field.
- This was Italy's first win against a full member side in men's T20I cricket.[13]
Ireland v UAE T20I series
| Irish cricket team in the UAE in 2025–26 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| United Arab Emirates | Ireland | ||
| Dates | 29 – 31 January 2026 | ||
| Captains | Muhammad Waseem | Paul Stirling | |
| Twenty20 International series | |||
| Results | Ireland won the 2-match series 2–0 | ||
| Most runs | Aryansh Sharma (77) | Curtis Campher (79) | |
| Most wickets |
Haider Ali (4) Junaid Siddique (4) | Gareth Delany (5) | |
1st T20I
v
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- Ireland won the toss and elected to bat.
- Paul Stirling (Ire) became most capped player of all time, in T20Is.[14]
2nd T20I
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- United Arab Emirates won the toss and elected to field.
References
- ^ "UAE to host Ireland ahead of T20 World Cup 2026". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "Ireland set to play Italy ahead of T20 World Cup 2026". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ "Ireland Men will play UAE Men in a two-match series in Dubai". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Ciao, Italia". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ "Ireland set for UAE detour before T20 World Cup". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "UAE to host Ireland for two-match T20I series in January 2026". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "Dubai to host UAE–Ireland T20I series ahead of men's T20 World Cup". Arab News. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "The World Stage awaits". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Italy name squad for maiden Men's T20 World Cup campaign". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Muhammad Waseem to lead UAE in two-match T20I series against Ireland". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "JJ Smuts included as Italy unveil squad for maiden T20 World Cup". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Italy, Ireland amp up T20 World Cup preparations with 3-match T20I series in Dubai". EuroCric. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ "Italy earn landmark win over Ireland in T20 match". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Ireland's Stirling breaks Rohit's record to become man with most T20I appearances". India Today. Retrieved 1 February 2026.