Ireland's predicted playing XI vs Afghanistan [Source: AFP]ODI cricket is set to return to Irish soil for the first time since May 2025, as Ireland will host Afghanistan in the first of the five-match series on Wednesday, August 5 at Bready Cricket Ground.The match will commence at 3:15 PM (IST) and will mark the beginning of the road to the World Cup 2027, as both teams eye a spot in the tournament in Africa.Ireland vs Afghanistan 1st ODI PreviewWith just over a year to go for the mega event, Ireland have called up some fresh and exciting faces into the squad for the series. Captain Paul Stirling will also be back in action for them for the first time since March.On the other hand, Afghanistan, currently ranked 8th, will enter a new era under their new skipper, Rahmat Shah, who will assume the duties from this series onwards, replacing Rashid Khan.Notably, this will not only be the first ODI in Ireland since May 2025, but also the first time the Men in Green play fifty-overs cricket since the aforementioned match. Hence, it will be interesting to see how they set up their team, keeping next year's World Cup in mind. So here's a look at Ireland's predicted XI for the series opener.Also Read: Cricket Ireland Goes Against Own Countrymen For AfghanistanIreland playing XI Vs Afghanistan, 1st ODIOpeners and Top Order (Paul Stirling (c), Andy Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael)Returning from his hamstring and calf injuries over the past few months, Paul Stirling will slot right back in at the opening position. Having played 170 ODIs, scoring 6005 runs with 14 hundreds and 32 fifties, his record speaks for itself, making him the most important batter in the lineup.Stirling will be paired with another 35-year-old veteran, Andrew Balbirnie, who boasts 117 ODIs under his belt, scoring 3264 runs with 9 hundreds and 17 fifties. He was also the top-scorer of the Inter-Provincial. The experienced duo will be followed by the young Cade Carmichael, who brings exuberance into the top-order. In his 36-match List A career, he has scored 1086 runs with 6 fifties and two hundreds.This top-order brings some swashbuckling batting from Stirling at the top, while both Andy Balirnie and Cade Carmichael can play second-fiddle and give the team good starts.Middle-order and Allrounders (Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair)Ireland fortunately boasts a long batting line-up, full of all-rounders. Their middle order begins with Harry Tector, who scored 230 runs in 4 innings of the Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup at 159.72 and is also their all-format starter.He will be followed by another leader in the team, Lorcan Tucker, who got 184 runs in 5 innings of the competition, striking at 173.58. He will also keep the wickets for the Irish in this series. The all-rounders will begin with the exciting Curtis Campher, who brings stability to the middle-order, with 1113 runs in 35 ODI innings, alongside 32 wickets with his medium pace.The spin-bowling duo of George Dockrell and Andy McBrine are also coming into the series in serious form.Dockrell recently resumed bowling his left-arm orthodox and picked 9 wickets in the Inter-Provincial matches, as the second-highest wicket-taker. He is 3 wickets behind Kevin O'Brien's 114 ODI scalps to become Ireland's highest wicket-taker in the format and can score brisk runs down the order as well.On the other hand, McBrine picked 6 wickets at only 4.36 runs per over with his off-spin, while also getting 279 runs in 5 innings as the second-highest run-getter. He is also closing in on 100 ODI wickets, currently seated at 91 scalps in 96 matches.Mark Adair is likely to complete the batting lineup at number 9, with a career ODI strike rate of 103.76 in 54 matches, while also having 71 wickets with his pace bowling. He can bowl across phases, making him a utility player to have.Bowlers (Jai Moondra, Liam McCarthy)This is the most interesting part of the squad, considering Jai Moondra's recent exploits against India. He is in contention to get his debut cap alongside Byron McDonough, who picked 8 wickets in 5 List A games recently.However, considering the international experience, Jai Moondra's left-arm pace could be useful against Afghanistan, especially with Josh Little out injured. He has 14 List A scalps in 9 matches so far.Moondra is likely to be paired with Liam McCarthy, who picked 6 wickets in 5 innings of the recent competition, while his economy rate of 8.43 was a bit concerning. He had made his ODI debut in Ireland's last series and finished as the joint-second highest wicket-taker of the series, with 5 wickets, giving him an edge.Overall, the pace attack would comprise Jai Moondra, Liam McCarthy, Mark Adair and Curtis Campher. The two spinners will be Andy McBrine and George Dockrell, while Gavin Hoey will wait for his turn to step in after a successful domestic One Day Cup.Ireland Predicted Playing XI vs Afghanistan- 1st ODI, 2026Paul Stirling (C), Andy Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Jai Moondra, Liam McCarthy.Also Read: How Mohammad Amir's British Citizenship Could Bring An End To His PSL Career
