Afghanistan v Ireland: Matthew Foster named in Ireland squads
- Published
Afghanistan won by seven wickets in the first Test match between the sides in 2019
Matthew Foster could make his Ireland debut after being named in the Test and one-day international squads for the multi-format series with Afghanistan.
A Test match will launch the series from 28 February before three ODIs and three Twenty20 matches in the UAE.
Barry McCarthy, Theo van Woerkom and Craig Young could also make their Test debuts for Ireland.
Andrew Balbirnie will captain the Test team while Paul Stirling will lead the ODI and T20 sides.
Uncapped Foster, 24, is a pace bowler who has represented domestic teams CSNI and Northern Knights.
"We have played a lot of cricket over the last decade in this part of the world, so the conditions should be somewhat familiar to the players," Ireland selector Andrew White said.
"While there has been a 12-week gap, the squad should carry some confidence and momentum into this series from the successful tour of Zimbabwe in December.
"Preparations have been going well, the squad had a solid training camp in Spain last week and we will be sending the players to the UAE five days before the upcoming series to acclimatise and train in Middle Eastern conditions.
"This series is a crucial one in our preparations before a big summer, which includes the T20 World Cup. This is always a highly anticipated contest and I would expect this to be a hard-fought series - one I'm very much looking forward to."
Ireland squads
Test squad: Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young.
ODI squad: Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling (capt), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young.
T20I squad: Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling (capt), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.
Fixtures
28 February - 3 March: Test in Abu Dhabi (06:00 GMT)
7, 9 & 12 March: ODIs in Sharjah (11:30 GMT)
15, 17 & 18 March: T20Is in Sharjah (all 16:00 GMT)