Ireland set for Afghanistan challenge

Defending champions Ireland will be aiming for its first victory in the four-day first-class ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10 when it goes head to head with Afghanistan in Dambulla from Thursday.

Ireland, winner of the tournament since 2005, currently sits in sixth place after managing just 12 points from its two previous games. In contrast, first-time entrant Afghanistan is in fourth position on 23 points from two matches that includes a come-from-behind one-wicket victory over the Netherlands in Amstelveen in August.

The two sides last met in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2009 Qualifier in Stand Friedman Oval, Krugersdorp, South Africa when Afghanistan successfully defended a modest total of 218 runs to beat eventual champion Ireland by 22 runs.

Ireland captain William Porterfield acknowledged that the prospect of facing Afghanistan is now very different to what it might have been in the past.

‘We certainly respect Afghanistan as a team,’ said Porterfield.

‘They have proven time and again over the past couple of years that they are a good team and they fully deserve their place at this level.

‘They beat us in the one-day format during the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in South Africa so we will not be taking them lightly.

'Their opening bowling attack is more than useful – it’s capable of taking quick wickets. And they also have some good spinners so as batsmen we’ll have to be at the top of our game. We don’t fear Afghanistan but we do respect them.

‘But we are the defending champions. We have won this tournament on the past three occasions and so we will be giving it everything we have to make it four in a row.

'We are confident and our preparation for this match has been very good. The boys are working hard and so we’re looking forward to what should be a good, tough, hard-fought game of cricket.’

After the ICC Intercontinental Cup match, the two sides will remain in Sri Lanka and will be also joined by Canada as part of their preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2010, which will be staged from 9 to 13 February in the UAE at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Sports City, and Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

IRELAND (squad) - William Porterfield (captain), Nigel Jones, Niall O’Brien, Gary Wilson, Trent Johnston, Andre Botha, Kevin O’Brien, John Mooney, Alex Cusack, Andrew White, Peter Connell, Phil Eaglestone and Gary Kidd.

AFGHANISTAN (squad) - Nawroz Khan Mangal, Mohamamd Shahzad Mohammadi, Karim Khan Sadiq, Mohammad Nabi Eisakhil, Merwais Ashraf, Raees Ahmadzai, Shahpoor Zardan, Shafiqullah Shafaq, Hamid Hasan, Samiullah Shinwari, Noor Ali Noori, Mohammad Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Ahmadzai and Obaidullah Konary.

UMPIRES – TH Wijewardena and Manmore Martinez.