Mulder named in squad to play Afghanistan

Ireland picked a squad for the InterContinental Cup match with Afghanistan in March, and leg spinner Jacob Mulder makes a line for a first-class debut. Ed Joyce, Niall O & # 39; Brien and Tim Murtagh are also included, and missed the desert T20, which Ireland lost to Afghanistan earlier this month.

Ireland currently ranks first in the InterContinental Cup, fourth in fourth place, leading Afghanistan to 19 points. The InterContinental Cup is expected to provide a route to test cricket as it enters the playoffs with the lowest ranked test country in 2018.

Ahead of the four-day match, Ireland and Afghanistan will have three T20s and five ODIs. All fixtures are held in Greater Noida, India. On March 2 and 4, two ODIs were set up for the UAE as part of the Irish training camp.

Irish senior coach John Bracewell said, “We are delighted to have this rich experience. "I had a full squad that hasn't been injured lately, but it's better to get everyone back to the busy program in March.

"I haven't hit the best in limited edition cricket lately, but I have a record of all four points in the InterContinental Cup.

"Players are particularly focused on winning their fifth competition with the opportunity to offer test cricket. Ed Joyce was the best in the tournament with two hundred and two.

"Young Jacob Mulder was a prominent bowler on the T20 and felt that the selectors deserved the opportunity in a longer format. As the situation in India became more likely to be friendly, his legs provided us with a very important variety. . "

Boyd Rankin will rest for the match in the UAE but will join Ireland during the 10-day training camp to prepare for the Afghanistan game.

However, Australian-born batter Nick Larkin, who played twice in Ireland in 2014, was excluded from participation for the time being.

Cricket Island performance director Richard Holdsworth said, “After a long discussion between Cricket Island and Nick Larkin, we are currently focusing on developing our career into the NSW Blues. "He had a contract until 2018, so it's not available in Ireland during that time."

Irish Intercontinental Cup Components: William Porterfield, John Anderson, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Jacob Mulder, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O & # 39; Brien, Niall O & # 39; Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson, Craig Young

Ireland ODI Team v UAE: William Porterfield, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Jacob Mulder, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O & # 39; Brien, Niall O & # 39; Brien, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young

Ireland ODI Team v Afghanistan: William Porterfield, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Jacob Mulder, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O & # 39; Brien, Niall O & # 39; Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

T20I Team vs. Afghanistan: William Porterfield, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Jacob Mulder, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O & # 39; Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Greg Thompson, Stuart Thompson, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.