Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s potential India debut gets green signal after big decision by Cricket Ireland

Cricket Ireland (CI) has confirmed that the upcoming two-match T20I series against India will be played as scheduled at Stormont in Belfast on June 26-28, following a comprehensive review of the security situation in the city.The confirmation comes after civil unrest was reported in Belfast earlier this month. In response, Cricket Ireland has worked closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and other relevant authorities to assess any potential risks surrounding the fixtures.

“The safety and wellbeing of all those involved in the series remains our highest priority. We continue to work closely with the PSNI, venue management and security partners, and are satisfied that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure the safe and successful staging of both matches,” CI said.According to the current assessment, there is no specific threat to the matches, the participating teams, the match officials, spectators or the stadium. Cricket Ireland also said it had received intelligence indicating that no protests or demonstrations were expected to disrupt either match.“Accordingly, the Ireland vs India T20 Internationals at Stormont on June 26 and 28 will go ahead as planned,” CI said.The governing body added that it will remain in constant contact with all relevant agencies in the lead-up to this series.

“We will continue to work closely with all relevant agencies and monitor developments in the lead-up to the matches. We encourage fans attending matches to follow Cricket Ireland’s official channels for any event updates and to allow additional travel time where necessary. We look forward to welcoming fans from Ireland, India and around the world to Belfast in what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of international cricket.”

“While India have regularly played limited overs cricket in Dublin in recent years, this will mark their return to Belfast after almost two decades. Their previous visit to Stormont came in 2007, when they appeared in three ODIs against South Africa and one against Ireland.India’s most recent tours of Ireland have all been in Dublin, where they played and won six T20Is across visits in 2018, 2022 and 2023.This year’s series will also see India playing T20 Internationals in Belfast for the first time.

Much of the attention ahead of the tour is focused on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who lit up the tri-series final in Dambulla with a stunning 94 and scored the fastest fifty in List A cricket. If he plays in either match, it will be his debut for India’s senior team.The 15-year-old’s growing profile has made him one of the biggest attractions on the tour, with broadcasters heavily promoting both the Ireland series and India’s subsequent matches in England around the youngster.Stormont Stadium has a seating capacity of about 4,200, a modest number considering the strength of India’s order following around the world. The Indian team is scheduled to travel to Belfast via London on June 23, with players and support staff arriving from various locations, including Mumbai and Chennai.