The dates for Ireland’s first ever Test has been confirmed with Pakistan slated to take on the hosts from May 11 to 15 in 2018.
The venue for the historic Test is yet to be announced but it understood that Malahide remains the front-runner for the tie with Belfast’s Stormont and Bready in Londonderry also under consideration.
Ireland and Afghanistan had become the latest countries to attain ICC Test status in June earlier this year after being awarded full memberships by the governing body.
Since gaining Test status, Cricket Ireland has been in search for its first ever opponents and an agreement for the same was reached with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during the ICC meet in Auckland earlier this month.
Pakistan are slated to tour England for a bilateral series in May next year and Cricket Ireland had seized on that window to confirm the country as its first opponents.
Malahide remains the favourite to host the historic Test.
Cricket Ireland’s chief executive Warren Deutrom on Friday confirmed the dates for the tie and said that a decision on the venue will be taken in the coming weeks.
The other Test newcomers in Afghanistan remain locked in discussion with Zimbabwe to become its first opponents with negotiations of staging the Test in Sharjah next year ongoing.
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium general manager Mazhar Khan had earlier told Sport360 that the two boards are in talks to hold the Test in February and a confirmation should be on its way soon.
“They (Afghan Cricket Board) are working on getting a date in February with Zimbabwe,” Khan said.
“This is what they are telling us and hopefully we will be hosting a Test match between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. They are planning to hold it in early February.”
