Ireland to Play Two T20Is Against UAE Ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup

Ireland will make a brief stop in the UAE as part of their preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Cricket Ireland and the Emirates Cricket Board confirming a two-match T20I series on Friday (November 28). The series will serve as crucial warm-up fixtures for the global event, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Ireland are scheduled to arrive in the UAE in late January. They will face the hosts in the first T20I on January 29, followed by the second and final match on January 31, with both games to be played at the Dubai International Stadium.

After completing the series, Ireland will travel to Sri Lanka for the World Cup, where they will play all their group-stage fixtures. They have been drawn into a challenging group alongside Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, and Oman.

The UAE squad, meanwhile, will head to India for their group matches. They are set to open their campaign against New Zealand in Chennai, before taking on Canada, Afghanistan, and South Africa in Delhi.

Cricket Ireland’s Director of Cricket, Richard Holdsworth, welcomed the opportunity to play in Dubai, noting that the fixtures will be an important component of the team’s preparation. He also indicated that additional warm-up games will be announced soon.

The short tour marks another step in both teams’ build-up to the global tournament, offering valuable competitive cricket in familiar conditions ahead of the World Cup.