Ireland's new head coach Gary Wilson has urged his squad to focus on qualifying for the 2027 ODI World Cup as he prepares to take charge for the first time in a five-match series against Afghanistan starting Wednesday. Ireland, currently 12th in the ODI rankings, have not reached the 50-over tournament since 2015, and Wilson, a veteran of Ireland's 2011 and 2015 World Cup campaigns, says the squad are "laser-focused" on reaching the 2027 event in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia given the boost such tournaments give the sport's profile.

Ireland face a demanding route to qualification, needing to progress through a 10-team qualifier for one guaranteed spot, with three further teams advancing to a Super Series to fill the final berth in the 12-team field. Wilson's task is complicated by a shortage of 50-over cricket, with just 15 ODIs played since the 2023 World Cup and three of those lost to weather; the Afghanistan series is Ireland's first ODI action since a 1-1 draw with West Indies in May 2025. Cricket Ireland chief executive Sarah Keane has acknowledged "moral discomfort" over facing Afghanistan given the country's treatment of women, though Ireland arrive with confidence after a historic 2-0 T20 series win over India in June.