Heinrich Malan is preparing to be tested again by Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates this week after the celebrations and euphoria of Ireland’s first Test match victory in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Ten of the team who secured that historic win are in the squad that will play three one-day internationals - PJ Moor misses out - and head coach Malan is looking for consistency when the first match gets underway in Sharjah tomorrow.

“It’s important that our first Test win was recognised but we want to be known for consistency across formats and we played some good white-ball cricket at the back end of last season,” Malan said, referring to his side’s ODI and T20 series wins in Zimbabwe

“We have the opportunity here against a quality Afghanistan side in different conditions to be tested again.”

The Ireland team and coaching staff received messages from all over the world after their maiden Test win, and Malan said it was those texts and Whatsapps that brought home just what the players had achieved.

“When we got our phones back, the number of messages we all got, including from past players and coaches, summed it up what it meant because there had been a lot of talk about how long it would take to get the first win.

“A lot of things went the way we wanted them to go over the three days and I was delighted and proud to get across the line.

“It was a fantastic occasion, a fantastic day, but there are two more formats to come on this tour and that’s where our mindset is at the minute.”

The squad, boosted by the arrival of Gareth Delany and Neil Rock, were forced indoors to train at the ICC Academy in Dubai yesterday by a rare rainy day, so will not get their first sight of the Sharjah pitch until this evening.

After the three day/night ODIs are played tomorrow, Saturday and Tuesday, the focus switches to T20 with another three-match series which marks the start of Ireland’s build up to the World Cup in June.