Namibia vs Ireland ODI Series 2026: Schedule and Squads

A First Ever ODI Meeting: Ireland Head to Windhoek on the Road to the 2027 World Cup

What is the series?

Five One Day Internationals (ODIs) between Namibia and Ireland, all in Windhoek, from Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Why is it special?

It will be the first men's ODI ever played between the two countries. Their only recent men's international meeting was at the 2021 T20 World Cup in Sharjah.

What time do the matches start?

10:00 AM in Namibia, which is 1:30 PM IST and 4:00 AM ET (3:00 AM ET for the final match). In Ireland, the first two games start at 9:00 AM and the last three at 8:00 AM, after the clocks go back.

Who captains Ireland?

Paul Stirling, with Lorcan Tucker as vice-captain.

The Story: Scouting the World Cup Grounds

Ireland have travelled to southern Africa with one big target in mind: the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Ireland missed the last two 50-over World Cups. To reach the next one, they must come through a 10-team World Cup Qualifier in South Africa and Namibia in February and March 2027, where only four places are available. Five ODIs in Windhoek is the perfect chance to learn the conditions.

For readers new to the format: in an ODI, each team bats for up to 50 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), and a match takes about eight hours. A five-match series means the team that wins the most games takes the trophy.

Cricket Ireland's Director of High Performance, Graeme West, said the trip will "provide great opportunities for our players to familiarise themselves with the conditions," and that the squads "feature the best of Irish men's current and emerging talent."

For Namibia, these games are part of a busy run. They are fighting for a top-four finish in Cricket World Cup League Two, and as World Cup co-hosts they want to be playing at their own tournament next year.

Full Schedule (Local, Ireland, IST and ET)

Local time is Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+2). Ireland moves from Irish Standard Time (UTC+1) to GMT on October 25. IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Time, which changes from EDT to EST on November 1. Every match starts on the same calendar date in all four zones. In Pakistan, every game starts at 1:00 PM.

📄 Download the series schedule as a PDF to save or share.

Squads

Ireland

Talking points:

• Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys is the only addition to the group that played Ireland's last ODI series, a 4-0 home defeat to Afghanistan in August. He last played an ODI in February 2025 and earned his recall through his T20I form.
• Fast bowler Josh Little is not in the squad. He will instead play for Ireland Wolves in Zimbabwe in November.
• After the Namibia series, Humphreys moves on to captain the Wolves against Zimbabwe A.

Namibia

Namibia's squad for the series had not been announced at the time of writing. This section will be updated once it is confirmed.

Players to Watch

Paul Stirling (c): Ireland's captain and most experienced batter, still dangerous at the top of the order.

Harry Tector: The engine of Ireland's middle order in 50-over cricket.

Lorcan Tucker (vc): The wicketkeeper-batter and vice-captain, comfortable both building an innings and finishing one.

Matthew Humphreys: Back in the ODI side, his left-arm spin could be valuable on Windhoek pitches.

Gerhard Erasmus: Namibia's long-serving captain, fresh from a 76 against the USA in League Two earlier this month.

What Comes Next for Ireland

Stat Corner

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Ireland's tour of Namibia start?

Thursday, October 22, 2026, with the 1st ODI at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek.

What time do the matches start in Ireland?

9:00 AM for the first two games and 8:00 AM for the last three, after the clocks go back on October 25.

What time do the matches start in India?

1:30 PM IST for all five games.

Have Namibia and Ireland played an ODI before?

No. This series will be the first men's ODIs between the two countries.

Why is the series important?

Both sides are preparing for 2027. Namibia co-host the World Cup, and Ireland must get through the World Cup Qualifier in South Africa and Namibia to reach it.

Who is Ireland's captain?

Paul Stirling, with Lorcan Tucker as vice-captain.

Related Guides and Series Coverage

📋 USA Win Cricket World Cup League Two: Back-to-Back Big Chases Seal a First Title

📋 Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule Revealed: India vs Pakistan on October 10, and a Brand-New Format

📋 ODI Cricket Explained: Rules, Format and How It Works

📋 Ireland Tour To Namibia 2026 Updates and News