Fresh faces, fresh starts as Ireland and Afghanistan meet in 5 ODIs

Ireland and Afghanistan kick off a five-match ODI series at Bready on August 5, 2026, marking new leadership eras for both sides ahead of their 2027 ODI World Cup qualification campaigns. Coaching & Leadership Shifts: Former Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott joins Ireland as a short-term consultant alongside new head coach Gary Wilson. Afghanistan transition under new head coach Richard Pybus, with Rahmat Shah taking over the captaincy from Hashmatullah Shahidi. Injury-Plagued Irish Squad: Ireland enter their first ODI in 15 months missing major pacers Josh Little, Craig Young, and Barry McCarthy, paving the way for left-arm seamer Jai Moondra to make his ODI debut following a star performance in the T20Is against India. Key Players to Watch: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG): Takes on the vice-captaincy coming off hot form in domestic and global T20 leagues. George Dockrell (IRE): Needs 3 wickets to become Ireland's all-time leading wicket-taker in ODIs (currently at 111). Head-to-Head & Venue: Afghanistan have won the last six ODIs against Ireland. Bready has hosted only one men's ODI previously (in 2019), which Ireland won chasing 255. Probable XI Ireland Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Mark Adair, Gavin Hoey, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy/Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra Afghanistan Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sadiqullah Atal, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharote/Allah Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman Pitch Report Bready has hosted just one men's ODI so far, in 2019, but the ground offered a high-scoring pitch in the three women's ODIs last month. West Indies Women chased down 242 in 38.4 overs and 270 in 38.5 overs and it should be no different for the first two ODIs of this series. There's about a 35% chance of rain on Wednesday. Afghanistan have won the last six ODIs against Ireland. The last time Ireland tasted victory over Afghanistan was in May 2019. George Dockrell (111 wickets) needs three more wickets to become Ireland's highest wicket-taker in ODIs. In the only men's ODI played in Bready, Ireland chased down 255 against Zimbabwe in 48.3 overs. Adair took a four-for, Stirling hit a half-century and Balbirnie was the Player of the Match with a century.