In a surprising turn of events, the venue for the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and Ireland in the UAE was changed from the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium to a local ground to accommodate a school competition. The decision was made just hours before the scheduled start of the Test match on Wednesday morning.
Originally, the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium was slated to host the Test match, known for its international matches. However, the venue was abruptly shifted to the neighboring Tolerance Oval to accommodate the Abu Dhabi Schools Sports Championship.
The Tolerance Oval has a seating capacity of 12,000, while the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium can accommodate 20,000 spectators. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), facing political constraints in their homeland, has previously hosted matches in Dehradun, India. This last-minute change has raised eyebrows, as an international fixture has been moved to accommodate a school match.
Matt Boucher, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub, expressed gratitude for the support received from the ACB, Cricket Ireland, and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for their flexibility in accommodating the venue change. He also thanked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their support.
The series between Afghanistan and Ireland consists of a solitary Test match, followed by three ODIs and three T20Is, all scheduled to be held in the UAE. Afghanistan is coming off a series against Sri Lanka, where they suffered a comprehensive ten-wicket loss in the Test match. Meanwhile, Ireland’s last international series was against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, where they emerged victorious in both the ODI and T20I contests.
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