Ireland's historic tour of Pakistan is finalised

The Ireland women's cricket team will become the first Irish senior international side to tour Pakistan when they play a six-match white-ball series in November 2022, it was announced today.

Confirmed jointly by the Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Ireland, the tour announcement comes just days after the news that Pakistan Women will be visiting Ireland in July for a T20I Tri-Series between Ireland and Australia to be played at Bready Cricket Club.

While Ireland and Pakistan have a history of international cricket between the two sides dating back 60 years, this will be the first time a senior men’s or women’s side will have played in Pakistan.

Ireland Women and Pakistan Women first met in an international match at the 1997 Women’s World Cup, when the Irish team prevailed by 182 runs.

The two sides subsequently met in a Test match in July 2000 in Dublin.

They have played each other 33 times across all formats – the last encounter being at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2018.

Ireland captain Laura Delany said: "We couldn't have asked for a better start to 2022, following the announcement of full time contracts. We have a busy summer ahead and are greatly looking forward to the prospect of playing Pakistan in an away series.

"As a squad we haven’t travelled to Pakistan before, but now having qualified for the ICC Women’s Championship we have been presented with this opportunity, one that no doubt will be a good challenge towards the end of the year.

"Having not played in Asian conditions for a few years now due to Covid-19, with a young squad this will be an invaluable opportunity as we are set to play more regularly in this part of the world over coming years."

Tour fixtures, venue to be decided: