Ireland-India T20Is to start early due to Women's T20 WC clash

Cricket Ireland (CI) confirmed late on Wednesday night that the two T20Is against India will begin at 1.30 pm local time, which is 6 pm IST. Normally, T20 internationals involving India start at 7 pm IST, but on this occasion the start time has been deliberately brought forward by an hour in view of the India-Australia Women's World Cup match on Sunday (June 28). That crucial fixture for Harmanpreet Kaur's India side is scheduled to begin at Lord's at 7 pm IST.

The two matches, to be played for the Spinny Cup, will still clash to an extent, but the adjustment in timings was understandably made to minimise the overlap, at least partially. Cricket Ireland confirmed to Cricbuzz that the Women's World Cup fixture was factored in when the start times of the India matches were determined.

CI, the organisers of the games, scheduled for Friday (June 26) and Sunday (June 28), are understood to have discussed the matter with the Indian media partner, Sony Sports. In an ideal scenario, the broadcaster would prefer a 7 pm IST start for India's T20Is, but Sony Sports is believed to have agreed to the revised timing in order to cut down the clash, even if only partially.

The five T20Is in England that follow immediately after the Ireland series have varying start times. While two of the matches will begin at the traditional 7 pm IST slot - the second T20I in Manchester on July 4 and the fifth in Southampton on July 11 - the other three games, in Chester-le-Street, Nottingham and Bristol, are scheduled to begin at 10 pm IST. The T20I series will be followed by three ODIs, all of which are slated to begin at the customary 3.30 pm IST.

Meanwhile, Cricbuzz has learnt that the three T20Is are unlikely to be added to India's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in the second half of August. There has been considerable discussion around the possibility of the additional fixtures, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) even stating that the proposal was under consideration. However, it is understood that the extra matches are now unlikely to materialise.

The two Tests, which form part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, are scheduled to be played between August 15 and 27. Cricbuzz sent text messages to both the BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

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