Ireland Cricket (IC) has announced the men’s squad for the upcoming T20 International series against India at home. Ireland have included the uncapped duo of Stephen Doheny and Conor Olphert in their 14-man squad for the two-match series, starting June 26 in Dublin.
Notably, both Doheny and Olphert have impressed with their recent performances in the domestic circuit. Doheny, a top-order batter, is the leading run-scorer in the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy competition, with 158 runs at an average of 52.67. Similarly, pacer Olphert has picked up six wickets in the T20 competition and six in the List A format this season.
Though, Simi Singh and Shane Getkate have been left out of the outfit that played in the T20 World Cup Qualifier earlier this year.
“There aren’t many better challenges for a new national coach to have than to start your tenure against the world’s number one-ranked T20I side, India. Heinrich (Malan) has been working hard since his arrival in Ireland, criss-crossing the island, getting to know the players and familiarising himself with the growing depth of talent we have here – and it’s this growing depth of talent that has made a challenging selection process for the first fixtures of the men’s home season,” said Andrew White, Chair of National Men’s Selectors.
“The T20I squad features a familiar core to the squad, but it’s pleasing to see a number of new faces earn their call-ups in Stephen Doheny and Conor Olphert. Both Warriors’ players have impressed at inter-provincial level this season with consistent performances, while Doheny has also come off the back of a good tour of Namibia with the Ireland Wolves. Olphert has bowled quickly, particularly on good wickets at Comber last month, and his selection gives us an opportunity to look at him as a tactical option given what lies ahead for the rest of the year,” added White.
Ireland Squad for India T20Is: Andrew Balbirnie (C), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Conor Olphert, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
