Cricket Ireland have announced their 15-member men’s squad for the upcoming home T20I series against India on Friday. The squad features a mix of experienced players and promising talents who played a crucial role in Ireland’s successful journey to qualify for the T20 World Cup next year.
Andrew White, Ireland’s men’s national selector, emphasized the strategic planning in the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year. He highlighted the significance of the 15 T20Is scheduled between now and the global event in June. These matches provide an opportunity to work on specific areas identified by the coaching team and to test out different combinations.
Notably, the three-match T20I series between Ireland and India will begin on August 18. All the three matches will be played at The Village in Dublin.
Return of Gareth Delany and Fionn Hand adds depth to the Irish lineup
The return of all-rounders Fionn Hand and Gareth Delany adds depth and variety to the Irish lineup. Hand, who last played during Ireland’s one-off Test against England at Lord’s in early June, has impressed selectors with his performances. Delany, who was part of the ODI squad in the 50-over World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, is back after recovering from a wrist injury that cut short his tournament.
The inclusion of Hand and Delany meant the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Neil Rock and pacer Graham Hume from the squad. The rest of the players are the same as the ones who featured in the T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier in Scotland in July, where Ireland secured a top-two finish along with Scotland.
“The recent qualifying campaign in Scotland was the first stage of our strategic planning for next June’s T20 World Cup. We currently have around 15 T20Is scheduled between now and the World Cup, so it is important that we use each of these to continue to build on areas that the coaching team has identified,” White stated in an official statement.
White further emphasized the importance of giving exposure and experience to a pool of players who are potential contenders for the World Cup squad. With limited time available between now and the end of the 2023 domestic season, the management wants to make the most of the opportunities to prepare a strong and competitive squad for the global spectacle.
“We only have a limited time between now and the end of the 2023 domestic season, so it’s also crucial that we use what opportunities we have to provide exposure and experience to a pool of players who we believe are in contention for making that World Cup squad. Giving opportunities to players also filters down the series themselves, so I would expect that all of the 15 players named in the India series squad will feature at some point,” he added.
Ireland Squad for India series: Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Ben White, Craig Young.
