11th May 2018 will be the historic day for Ireland cricket and Test cricket when eleven Irish players will step out in whites to take on Pakistan. The Test match will make Ireland the 11th Test playing nation and a new chapter in cricket will start. Cricket Ireland today has announced the 14-member squad that will take part in the historic maiden Test against Pakistan.

Last year, in June,  ICC confirmed the two new entrants to the list of the Test-playing nations after the Full Council members approved Full Member status to both Ireland and Afghanistan at the London board meeting. So Ireland will make their Test debut against Pakistan while Afghanistan will play their first-ever Test against India in Bengaluru on 14th June.

The full Irish Squad for the Test is followed –

William Porterfield (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Ed Joyce, Tyrone Kane, Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Nathan Smith, Paul Stirling, James Shannon, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson

Ireland’s captain in all formats and the senior batsman William Porterfield will lead the green team in the seminal fixture. The other long-serving Irish cricketers pros who will be a part of this match are Ed Joyce, O’Brien brothers and Boyd Rankin.

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Ireland impressed the cricketing fraternity when they were first seen in the tied ODI match against Zimbabwe in the World Cup 2007. They then upstaged Pakistan and virtually knocked out them from the competition. Ever since they have continuously promised as the quickest developing Associate nation until Afghanistan arrived.

After Ireland was awarded Full Membership, board CEO Warren Deutrom had expressed his happiness and felt relieved that their dedication paid off. “We are delighted and proud with today’s historic announcement. It is an extraordinary testament to the talent and endeavor of thousands of passionate players, coaches, volunteers, staff, clubs and committee people,” he said.

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“We would like to thank most sincerely the ICC and its members for bestowing this honor on us today. It is a reflection not just of our past achievements but of our potential to grow our great game. We shall spend the next 24 hours marking the moment and celebrating this great day for Irish cricket and next week the hard work of planning to transition to full membership and Test status begins in earnest.”

Ireland will play their one-off Test against Pakistan on 11th May at Dublin.