Matthew Humphreys back for Ireland's ODI tour of Namibia

Ireland will tour Namibia for five ODIs later this month as they step up their preparations for next year's World Cup Qualifier.

Ireland have not reached either of the last two 50-over World Cups but will travel to South Africa and Namibia in February-March next year for the 10-team Qualifier looking to seal one of four available spots at the 2027 edition.

The senior side will play five ODIs in Windhoek before an Ireland Wolves squad, featuring many of the same players, travel to Zimbabwe for two four-day games and five one-day matches in November.

Ireland have never previously played a men's ODI against Namibia, and faced them most recently in a full men's international in Sharjah at the 2021 T20 World Cup.

"The tours provide great opportunities for our players to familiarise themselves with the conditions and some of their potential opponents," Graeme West, Ireland's high-performance director, said in a statement.

Ireland lost their most recent ODI series 4-0 at home to Afghanistan in August, but their selectors have named a near-identical squad for the Namibia tour. The only difference is the addition of left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys, who has not played an ODI since February 2025 despite his success in T20 internationals.

Six Ireland players - Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Ross and Mark Adair, Curtis Campher and George Dockrell - were recently picked at the ILT20 auction as the result of an agreement between Cricket Ireland and the Emirates Cricket Board, with the tournament due to start on November 21.

Barring Andy Balbirnie and Andy McBrine, the rest of the squad for the Namibia ODIs will travel to Zimbabwe for the Wolves tour. Mark Adair will also join for the red-ball leg, while the five other ILT20 players will have a short rest before travelling to the UAE.

Josh Little, who has struggled with form and fitness in recent years, is another notable inclusion in the Wolves squad for the one-day leg of the Zimbabwe tour. Humphreys will captain the Wolves throughout.

West added: "The squads selected for the senior men's and Wolves tours feature the best of Irish men's current and emerging talent, and the chance for such a large cohort of players getting away during the winter months to play outdoors on grass in warmer conditions is a welcome one."

Squad: Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Jordan Neill, Paul Stirling (captain), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (vice-captain/wk)

Fixtures: October 22 - 1st ODI, October 24 - 2nd ODI, October 27 - 3rd ODI, October 30 - 4th ODI, November 1 - 5th ODI (all Windhoek).

Squad: Mark Adair (red-ball only), Ben Calitz, Cade Carmichael, David Delany (white-ball only), Gareth Delany (white-ball only), Chris Defreitas, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan (red-ball only), Matthew Hollard, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little (white-ball only), Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Jordan Neill, Tim Tector, Reuben Wilson (red-ball only).

Fixtures: November 6-9 - 1st four-day match, November 13-16 - 1st four-day match, November 19 - 1st one-day match, November 21 - 2nd one-day match, November 23 - 3rd one-day match, November 26 - 4th one-day match, November 28 - 5th one-day match (venues TBC).