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Paul Stirling in action against Pakistan in 2011. ©INPHO/Presseye/Rowland White
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Ireland to host Pakistan in ODI series this summer

The internationals will take place on 23 and 26 May, Cricket Ireland announced this morning.

IRELAND WILL HOST Pakistan for a one-day international series this summer, Cricket Ireland confirmed today.

Ranked sixth in the world, Pakistan will play two matches as they spend a week acclimatising in Ireland before travelling on to England for the Champions Trophy in June.

The first ODI against Ireland will take place on Thursday 23 May with a second to follow on Sunday 26 May. The venues are still to be finalised and ticketing details will be released in due course.

The two countries last met on Irish soil in 2011 when Paul Stirling starred with a brilliant 109 — described at the time by cricketing legend Waqar Younis as “one of the best knocks I’ve seen for a while” — but couldn’t stop Ireland from falling to a 2-0 series defeat.

Today’s announcement adds to an already busy summer with a four-day game against Australia “A” and the RSA Challenge against England already confirmed, as well as a proposed series against Bangladesh.

“It’s fantastic news for Irish cricket, and we’re grateful to both ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board for making the series possible,” Ireland coach Phil Simmons said.

“The extra funding we’ve secured through TAPP [Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme, worth $1.5m] ensures we’re able to organise additonal matches against Full Members.

“Pakistan are a formidable one-day side  and it’s a great way of measuring where we are as a team. We’ve had some wonderful tussles with them in the  past, and for many, Irish cricket was born the day we beat them in the 2007 World Cup. That win grabbed the attention of the world and we haven’t looked back since.”