Cricket Ireland issues statement amid unrest in Belfast ahead of high-profile India T20I

ByTech Word News

Ireland hosts Team India for a two-match T20I series later this month. Cricket Ireland has released an official statement after days of unrest and violence in Belfast, with the governing body closely monitoring the situation ahead of India’s two-match T20I series in the city later this month.The riots broke out after a knife attack earlier this week and have since spread to several areas of Northern Ireland. According to reports, houses and vehicles were set on fire, public transport was disrupted and dozens of people were forced from their homes as the protests turned violent.With world champions India set to play Ireland on June 26 and 28 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast, there have naturally been concerns over the fate of the series.

Cricket Ireland is monitoring the situation

In a statement posted on social media, Cricket Ireland confirmed that it remains in close contact with the authorities and will continue to assess the situation before making a decision regarding domestic matches.“Cricket Ireland continues to monitor the situation in areas currently experiencing community unrest and will make a decision over the next 48 hours regarding the Irish Senior Cup and National Cup draws this Sunday,” management said.“We remain in close consultation with the relevant authorities and our provincial unions. The safety and security of players, coaches, match officials and fans is paramount in our considerations. Further updates will be provided as they become available,” it added.The board has previously called off the Inter-Provincial T20 Festival in Lisburn, while a decision on the weekend’s domestic cup matches is expected soon.However, Cricket Ireland’s statement did not make any specific reference to the upcoming international matches against India.

India’s high-profile series in the spotlight

The Belfast leg is set to usher in a new era for the Indian T20 side, with Shreyas Iyer taking over as captain following the departure of T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav.The series could also witness a historic debut for 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The Rajasthan Royals star earned his first national call-up after a record-breaking IPL 2026 season in which he amassed 776 runs at an astonishing 237.31.A senior international appearance would make Sooryavanshi the youngest cricketer in men’s cricket to represent India, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s mark.However, the focus remains on Belfast for now, with Cricket Ireland stressing that the safety and security of all involved will remain a top priority as the countdown to the highly anticipated series continues.

India Team for Ireland T20Is

  • Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep, Sohavoryh Prince, Prahavoryh, Prince Krishna.

What are you most excited about for India’s upcoming T20 series in Ireland?