It's been ten years since the Irish cricket team forced their way into the nation's consciousness.
In their World Cup debut in the West Indies, the team force a tie against Zimbabwe. Two days later in Kingston, the team shocked the cricketing world by beating Pakistan.
Since then the team have led the way for the second-tier 'Associate Nations', before being given Test status alongside Afghanistan earlier this summer.
Since the game in 2007, Pakistan have been one of Ireland's biggest supporters, and is fitting that they have been announced as Ireland's first opponents in the Test arena.
The ICC, cricket's governing body have confirmed that the Asian giants will play Ireland in a one-off Test match, before the team travel to England for a two-Test series.
Although the venue of date have not been confirmed, Cricket Ireland revealed the match will be taking place in May 2018.Cricket Ireland Chief Executive Warren Deutrom said it was the associaton's wish to make sure the Test debut was on home soil.
We are excited to welcome Pakistan to Ireland for our inaugural Test match next year.It has been our wish to make our Test debut in front of our own fans within 12 months of becoming a Test nation, and against a big team, so I’m delighted.
Captain William Porterfield was part of the side who defeated Pakistan ten years in Jamaica. He revealed the two teams have built a bond since that fateful match.
There’s a special affinity between ourselves and Pakistan going back to the 2007 World Cup and they’ve been regular tourists here over the past decade.
Test cricket is the pinnacle of our sport and I know how much this game will mean to not only the players but all involved with Irish cricket. It’ll be another step on what has been an incredible journey for our sport in a relatively short passage of time.
It will be a historic five days for Irish sport next May, in what seemed impossible a decade ago.
