Ireland 'laser-focused' on World Cup qualification

Ireland are 12th in the ODI rankings and, as part of a keenly debated new format, will take part in a 10-team qualifier next year for just one guaranteed berth at the 2027 World Cup.

Another three teams will advance to a so-called Super Series directly preceding the tournament to decide the final spot in the 12-team field.

Despite the precarious path to even make it back to a World Cup, Wilson does not want his players to limit their ambition to just taking part.

"Irish cricket is really in its infancy in many ways and there's been a lot of firsts within the last 20 years," he said.

"We've had Ed Joyce as the first player to play for England, we've had the first World Cup in 2007, we've had the first Test win, why can't we go on and do something huge at a World Cup? If you'd said 30 or 40 years ago where the Irish rugby team would be now, you'd have got laughed at.

"Whether it's in our lifetime or not, one day we will do something amazing. A challenge I've put to this group is to create their own firsts. I think if we just stay focused, there's something big very close."

Should Ireland meet Wilson's ambitions, it will be in spite of a lack of 50-over cricket. In the three years since the 2023 edition of the World Cup, they have scheduled just 15 ODIs with three of those lost to the weather.

The series against Afghanistan - which Cricket Ireland CEO Sarah Keane has said comes with "moral discomfort" given the treatment of women in the Asian country - will be Ireland's first in the format since a 1-1 draw with West Indies in May 2025.

"It is a challenge of course, but it is what it is," said Wilson.

"We know it's a barrier but there's not any point in talking about it, we can't change it. We have played other cricket within that period.

"Would I have wanted more? Of course, I'd have wanted loads, but that's not to be. We've got what we've got and we get on with it and attempt to beat Afghanistan in this series."

Ireland at least come in with recent white-ball form after June's historic T20 series win over India.

The 2-0 victory at Stormont, Ireland's first wins over the T20 world champions in any format, made global headlines but Wilson is keen to draw a line under the feat.

"More than anything those results probably made people stand up and think and it's something we can try and work off the back of as a wider organisation," he said.

"In terms of the team, we mustn't get carried away with two results. You wouldn't change them for the world, they were phenomenal, but they're in the past now. We must start again against Afghanistan."

Bowler Jai Moondra, the breakout star of the India series, will make his 50-over debut against Afghanistan, while Paul Stirling, who retains the ODI captaincy despite relinquishing the T20 role, seamer Mark Adair and all-rounder Curtis Campher all return to the panel.

Against a side who have travelled with the likes of Rashid Kahn and Ibrahim Zadran in their touring squad, Ireland will however be without Josh Little, Craig Young, Barry McCarthy, Matt Hollard and Jordan Neil through injury.