News

With the cricket season moving into full-swing, and Pakistan’s visit to Dublin for the RSA Insurance ODI Series just weeks away, we spoke to three well known cricketers who play in Ireland and will inevitably take an extra interest in the two matches.
Saadat Gul Khan, known to most as Tipu, came to Ireland in 1998 and has seen the game grow over the last 15 years.

“Cricket has changed a lot here in Ireland. When I first came there was not much competition, clubs depended a lot on professionals. But nowadays every club has six or seven good players and competition is very tight. There is no doubt Irish cricket is going on the right track.”

Ehtesham Ahmed, or Shami, has been in Ireland for 11 years now. “I came to Ireland as a student and continued my cricket alongside my studies. Cricket is very different now to when I first arrived. The standard has gone very high, professionalism has come in, high quality Irish players are being brought up in domestic cricket; perfect examples are Ed Joyce, Eoin Morgan and the O’Brien brothers.”

Gul plays for Rush Cricket Club and thinks the upcoming fixtures against Pakistan will help improve Irish cricket. “These kinds of big games will help attract more people to cricket and hopefully get more people involved in the game. It’s also a good chance for Ireland to prove they are good enough to compete at that higher level.”

Shahid Iqbal plays for Rush and he agrees that these games can only be a good thing for Irish cricket. “I think it’s good for the Irish cricket circle I just hope the sun comes out!”

Shami is looking forward to the Pakistan players seeing his adopted home city. “I am so happy that Pakistan are coming to the great city of Dublin to play a good, competitive game against the boys in green and I really hope Ireland do the same thing they did against Pakistan on St. Patrick’s Day in 2007.”

Ahmed is, of course, referring to when Ireland shocked the cricket world with a famous win over Pakistan six years ago. Many people see that day as the beginning of Irish cricket as we now know it.

In the intervening years, Ireland’s men’s team have gone from strength to strength and are now at the stage where some of them are household names. Khan, Ahmed and Iqbal are looking forward to seeing some of the stars of the game, both Pakistani and Irish.

“I’m excited to see the tallest man in cricket, Mohammed Irfan, bowling on the Clontarf deck,” said Shami. “For Ireland, I would like to see Paul Stirling against the Pakistan bowling attack, and George Dockrell against their batsmen.”

Tipu is more interested in the bowlers than batters. “I’m looking forward to seeing Max Sorensen and it will be good to see what Saeed Ajmal can do in Irish conditions.” Shahid Afridi and and Younus Khan are at the top of the list for Iqbal. “I would also like to see Irish batsmen William Porterfield, Ed Joyce and Kevin O’Brien.”

Though they were born in Pakistan, all three will be rooting for Ireland. “My support will be fifty fifty,” admitted Gul, “because I’m an Irish national too! I just wish all of the players the best.”

Shami has no split loyalties. “It’s my dream come true to see the country of my birth playing against my adopted country. I can’t wait to see the Ireland boys giving the Pakistanis a hard time in Castle Avenue. I also hope that the cricket relations will become much stronger and some day I will go to Pakistan to watch Ireland play in an Ireland supporter’s jersey. At the games next month, though, I will be supporting the boys in green.”

Iqbal will be happy just to see some good cricket. “I will be supporting both teams because of dual nationality so I just pray that the rain stays away!”

Early Bird Tickets are still available for the next ten days for both matches, with 20% discounts and a special two-match package available for purchase by clicking here

These Early Bird Tickets can also be bought in cash at the cricket shops, AP Sports in Artane, Dublin 5 or ED Sports in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

Cricket Ireland
Shami with Phil Simmons
Yes