When Cricket Ireland unveiled its squad for the 2025 tour of Bangladesh, five players stepped into the spotlight — not as seasoned veterans, but as the next generation of Irish cricket. The squad, announced in September 2025, includes Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Cade Carmichael, Jordan Neill, and one unnamed debutant, all uncapped in Test cricket. Their inclusion signals a bold pivot: Ireland, still a relative newcomer to Test cricket, is betting big on youth as it faces a dominant Bangladesh Cricket Board side on home soil.
A Series Rewritten
Originally, the 2025 tour was slated to feature two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. But in a surprising twist, Cricket Ireland asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board to drop one Test match — not to ease the schedule, but to focus on quality over quantity. The result? A leaner, more intense schedule: two Tests and three T20Is, with ODIs axed entirely. It was a strategic move, one that reflects Ireland’s ongoing struggle to maintain Test momentum. With only 19 Tests played since gaining Full Member status in 2017, every match matters.
First Test: A Lesson in Dominance
The opening Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from November 11–14, 2025, was a brutal masterclass. Bangladesh declared at 587/8, thanks to Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s 171, while Ireland’s top order crumbled under a relentless spin attack. Hasan Murad, making his Test debut, took 4/60 in the second innings, helping bowl Ireland out for 254 — a collapse that sealed a 1-0 series lead for Bangladesh by an innings and 47 runs. The spin trio of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, and Murad accounted for 14 wickets between them. Ireland’s Paul Stirling (60) and Andy McBrine (52) were rare bright spots.
And then there were the debuts. Stephen Doheny and Gavin Hoey walked out for Ireland — the former as a gritty middle-order batter, the latter as a spinner summoned for the turning Dhaka pitch. Both survived, but barely. Their journey, like Ireland’s Test ambitions, is just beginning.
Mushfiqur’s Milestone: A Nation’s Pride
The second Test, beginning November 19, 2025, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, isn’t just about results — it’s about history. Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s veteran wicketkeeper-batter, will play his 100th Test, becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach the milestone. He’s played in every single one of Bangladesh’s 104 Tests since his debut in 2005. That’s longevity. That’s legacy. That’s the spine of a team that’s grown from minnow to menace.
For Ireland, the challenge is stark. Their last Test in Dhaka in 2023 saw Lorcan Tucker score 108 — only the second century ever by an Irish Test batter and the sixth wicketkeeper in history to hit a century on debut. Can Tucker repeat that magic? Or will Bangladesh’s spinners, now even more confident, shut him down again?
The T20I Shift: A New Battlefront
After the Tests, the series pivots to T20Is — a format where Ireland has shown flashes of brilliance. The three-match T20I series kicks off November 27, 2025, at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram, then returns to Dhaka for the final match on December 2. The format favors Ireland’s aggressive top order — Stirling, Campher, and McBrine can all clear the ropes. But Bangladesh, winners of five of eight T20Is against Ireland, have home advantage and a terrifying pace-spin combo.
With Bangladesh Cricket Board confirming all fixtures in September 2025, and Cricket Ireland managing logistics from its Blanchardstown base, this tour is more than a series — it’s a litmus test. For Bangladesh, it’s about reinforcing their status as a consistent Test side. For Ireland, it’s about proving they belong.
What’s Next for Irish Cricket?
Five uncapped players don’t just show up on a tour — they redefine a team’s future. If Hoey’s spin holds up in Dhaka, or Carmichael’s batting survives the spinners, Ireland might have found its next generation. But the pressure is immense. Ireland has won just one of its 19 Tests. Bangladesh, by contrast, has won 10 of its last 15 home Tests since 2020. The gap isn’t just in rankings — it’s in experience, depth, and belief.
Still, cricket isn’t always about numbers. It’s about moments. The first time a young Irish batter stands tall against a 100-cap legend. The roar of a Dhaka crowd when a debutant takes a wicket. That’s what this tour is really about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the five uncapped players in Ireland’s 2025 squad for Bangladesh?
The five uncapped players named are Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Cade Carmichael, Jordan Neill, and one unnamed player. Doheny and Hoey made their Test debuts in the first match in Sylhet, with Hoey brought in specifically for the spin-friendly conditions in Dhaka. Their inclusion reflects Ireland’s strategy to build depth for future tours.
Why was the ODI series removed from the schedule?
Cricket Ireland requested the removal of one Test match to reduce fixture congestion, but both boards agreed to drop all three ODIs instead. The decision was strategic: Ireland prioritizes Test development, while Bangladesh prefers a condensed schedule that maximizes home revenue and viewer engagement in a high-demand market.
What makes Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test special?
Mushfiqur Rahim is the first Bangladeshi cricketer to play 100 Test matches, having featured in every single one of Bangladesh’s 104 Tests since his debut in 2005. He’s the only player in cricket history to reach this milestone without ever captaining his country in Tests — a testament to his consistency and adaptability as a wicketkeeper-batter.
How has Ireland performed historically against Bangladesh in Tests and T20Is?
In Tests, Bangladesh leads 1-0 after their 2025 win in Sylhet. In ODIs, Bangladesh has won 11 of 16 matches. In T20Is, Bangladesh holds a 5-3 advantage. Ireland’s only Test win against Bangladesh came in 2023 in Dhaka, but that match was abandoned due to rain — meaning they’ve never actually beaten Bangladesh on the field in Tests.
Who are the key players to watch in the second Test?
For Bangladesh, spinners Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are expected to dominate the Dhaka pitch, while Hasan Murad will look to build on his debut 6-wicket haul. For Ireland, captain Andy Balbirnie must anchor the batting, while debutant Gavin Hoey’s ability to contain runs and take breakthroughs will be crucial. Lorcan Tucker, seeking redemption after his 2023 century, is also under pressure to deliver.
When and where is the final T20I of the series?
The third and final T20I is scheduled for December 2, 2025, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, with play starting at 2:00 PM Bangladesh time. This match will close out Bangladesh’s 2025-26 home international season and could determine whether Ireland can avoid a 3-0 sweep in the T20I leg.
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