FTP announces total Tests Afghanistan and Ireland are to play from 2019 to 2023

Afghanistan and Ireland created quite a buzz earlier this year by becoming the newest full-members of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Both the teams are progressing by leaps and bounds as they’re all set to play a combined total of 29 Tests in the time span of 2019-2023. Both Afghanistan and Ireland will take on the best of best in the upcoming tours.

The two relatively young teams zeroed in on their Future Tours Programme (FTP) on Tuesday. Speaking in figures, the division of the 29 Tests would be with 16 Tests to Ireland, while Afghanistan will play 13 Tests. It’s mandatory for the FTP to be approved by the ICC on or before June 2018.

Afghanistan and Ireland to take on the best of teams

Ireland and Afghanistan had finalised their opponents even before the FTP came into being, reported ESPNCricInfo. Interestingly, the two new Test teams are taking their own time to settle in into the new shoes. The number of games they’ll take part in will significantly be lower than the number of Tests other major teams played in their initial years. While Bangladesh played a total of 40 Tests when they started representing Test cricket, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe played 24 Tests each.

Afghanistan will be beginning their Test journey against India, the schedule and venues of which are yet to be decided. On the other hand, Ireland is all set to host Pakistan in 2018. There is, however, a slight disparity in terms of the oppositions the two teams have been able to secure.

Ireland will face off against Australia in 2019, Sri Lanka in 2020 and England in 2021. They will also play host to New Zealand as well as South Africa in 2022. Afghanistan, on their part, will take on Australia, the only top team amongst the lot. The other opponents in Afghanistan’s FTP are West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Ireland.