Congested Schedule Postpones Pakistan's Home Series Against Ireland To 2027

Pakistan and Ireland had been preparing for a white-ball series featuring three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), anticipated to take place during the September-October window in 2025. The series, originally announced in May 2024, marked Ireland’s first-ever tour of Pakistan. It was listed as part of Pakistan’s early home season fixtures, and discussions around the venues and arrangements had reportedly been underway for a long time.
The bilateral series was expected to provide teams with a good opportunity to fine-tune their white ball squads for a busy global cricket calendar. Despite the initial plans, there has been little communication from either board about the upcoming fixtures. Sources now suggest that discussions are ongoing between both the boards, PCB and Cricket Ireland, about the potential rescheduling. With Pakistan’s calendar becoming increasingly congested and no recent updates available, the likelihood of the series going ahead seems to be in limbo now.

Pakistan Ireland Series Postponed To 2027

According to multiple reports, including ESPNcricinfo, chances are that the fans will see the Pakistan Ireland series postponed to 2027. The reason for the cancellation is largely due to Pakistan’s packed white-ball schedule during the latter part of 2025, which includes international series and multi-nation tournaments.

The timing of the originally planned series clashed with several existing commitments. Pakistan, one of the best cricket teams in the world, are currently engaged in a white-ball series against the West Indies. It will be followed by a tri-nation T20I series with the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan. This Tri-series is scheduled from August 29 to September 7 and serves as a preparatory event for the Asia Cup, which is set to take place from September 9 to 28 in the UAE.

Additionally, South Africa is also scheduled to tour Pakistan for a two-match Test series in early October, further tightening the available window. With the T20 World Cup also taking place early next year, Pakistan has made a strategic decision to increase its focus on the shorter format. They had already expanded the number of T20 matches in their home series against Bangladesh and also looked for a similar possibility in the ongoing West Indies series.

A PCB official stated that the decision was taken in mutual agreement with Cricket Ireland to better balance fixtures across seasons. Ireland, however, did not have any scheduling conflicts during the window. However, they appear to have accepted the postponement, and both boards are now looking for a future available window to reschedule the series for 2027. The current PCB website still reflects the earlier schedule, but it’s confirmed that the series is no longer expected to be played in 2025.

What the PAK vs IRE 2025 Series Could Have Meant for Irish Cricket

The cancellation of the PAK vs IRE 2025 series is a missed opportunity for Ireland’s men’s cricket team. A bilateral white ball tour to Pakistan could have been historic, as the Asian side has been involved in some of the biggest rivalries in cricket. For a team looking to establish itself and improve its rankings, the series could have offered the side an opportunity to test its squad.

The exposure from touring Pakistan could also have contributed positively to Ireland’s development plans for upcoming global events, including making it to the qualification paths for future ICC tournaments.
While the decision to postpone was mutual and based on scheduling practical concerns, the delay means Ireland has to wait longer to tour the country. The rescheduled 2027 window now becomes more important for the Irish team as they look to build a more consistent international calendar.