Ireland and Italy are set to clash in a historic three-match T20I series in Dubai in January 2026, a landmark event for Italian cricket as it marks their first-ever bilateral series against an ICC Full Member nation. The matches will take place on January 23, 25, and 26 at the Sevens Stadium, providing both teams with an essential opportunity to prepare for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, commencing February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
For Ireland, an ICC Full Member since 2017, this series will serve as a critical foundation as they prepare to compete in Group B of the World Cup, alongside formidable teams like Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Oman, with their matches taking place in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Italy, who made history by qualifying for their first-ever T20 World Cup after finishing in the top two at the Europe Regional Final in July 2025, aims to harness this series for competitive experience. They will face tough opponents such as England, the West Indies, Bangladesh, and Nepal in Group C, playing their matches in India.
The two teams have limited prior encounters, with only one T20I match played between them, which took place in Edinburgh during the T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier in July 2023, where Ireland narrowly claimed victory by 7 runs. In that match, Curtis Campher shone with both bat and ball, scoring 61 runs and taking one wicket, earning the Player of the Match title.
The schedule for the series is as follows, with all matches set to start at 6:00 PM local time (2:00 PM GMT):
– 1st T20I: January 23, 2026
– 2nd T20I: January 25, 2026
– 3rd T20I: January 26, 2026
Ireland has announced its squad, which includes prominent players like Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher, and Mark Adair, while Italy’s squad is yet to be disclosed.
The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, which will host all matches, is renowned for its versatile facilities, featuring multiple pitches suitable for night matches with floodlights. The venue has a history of hosting significant cricket events, making it an excellent location for this series.
This upcoming series is not only pivotal for honing team strategies and enhancing match fitness but also signifies a bright chapter for Italian cricket. Maria Lorena Haz Paz, President of the Federazione Cricket Italiana, emphasized the historic nature of this series for Italy, while Richard Holdsworth, Director of Cricket at Cricket Ireland, acknowledged the importance of acclimatizing to the hot conditions typical in Dubai, which starkly contrast with the Irish winter.
As both teams gear up for their respective World Cup journeys, fans can eagerly anticipate an exciting display of cricket that promises to deliver competitive spirit and historic moments for both nations.