Ireland Announce Squads for Oman Series and T20 World Cup Qualifier

Cricket Ireland has today announced squads for the upcoming T20 International Series in Oman and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE next month.

Selectors were pleased with the performance of the Ireland T20I squad in winning the recent GS Holding T20I Tri-Series, and have largely maintained the squad for the October fixtures.

Simi Singh is retained in the squad after Jacob Mulder was forced to withdraw fully with an injury. The only change for the Oman leg is that David Delany steps out as he is unavailable due to his university study programme, and Barry McCarthy comes in as cover. 

The squad for the Oman series is:

• Gary Wilson (Northern Knights) (Captain), Mark Adair (Northern Knights), Andrew Balbirnie (Leinster Lightning), Gareth Delany (Leinster Lightning), George Dockrell (Leinster Lightning), Shane Getkate (Northern Knights), Barry McCarthy (Leinster Lightning), Kevin O’Brien (Leinster Lightning), Boyd Rankin (North West Warriors), Simi Singh (Leinster Lightning), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Harry Tector (Northern Knights), Stuart Thompson (North West Warriors), Lorcan Tucker (Leinster Lightning), Craig Young (North West Warriors).

The squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier is:

• Gary Wilson (Northern Knights) (Captain), Mark Adair (Northern Knights), Andrew Balbirnie (Leinster Lightning), David Delany (Northern Knights), Gareth Delany (Leinster Lightning), George Dockrell (Leinster Lightning), Shane Getkate (Northern Knights), Kevin O’Brien (Leinster Lightning), Boyd Rankin (North West Warriors), Simi Singh (Leinster Lightning), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Harry Tector (Northern Knights), Stuart Thompson (North West Warriors), Lorcan Tucker (Leinster Lightning), Craig Young (North West Warriors).

Andrew White, Chair of National Men’s Selectors, said:

“The T20 International squad gelled quickly during that last series, and the character the players displayed was admirable. They showed the fighting spirit that Irish teams have been renowned for, so it is great to see that coming through particularly in the newer members of the squad. It’s a real indication of great leadership within the group, and the experience that Gary [Wilson] brings to this side. Quite often those characteristics are underappreciated, but are vital to a side that is in transition – and have been pivotal to our improvement in this format of the game.”

“After his impressive debut, we would have obviously preferred to have had David Delany available for Oman as well as the Qualifier, however David is in the final year of his university studies and we have had to balance his studying and playing as best we can. There have been ongoing discussions with David’s university, who have supported his leave from studies that will see him available in the UAE.” 

“It also goes without saying that [Head Coach] Graham Ford’s recent contract extension is a vote of confidence in the direction Irish cricket is heading. We look forward to working with Fordie in the coming years to continue the great platform he has helped lay for the next generation.”

UPCOMING FIXTURES 

The Ireland Men’s squad departs on 30 September for Oman where they will play four T20 Internationals. The squad will then head immediately to Abu Dhabi where they will compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier. The fixtures are: 

Ireland’s Oman fixtures

• 5 October: Ireland v Netherlands (Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat, 1.30pm*)

• 6 October: Oman v Ireland (Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat, 9.30am*)

• 7 October: Hong Kong v Ireland (Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat, 1.30pm*)

• 9 October: Ireland v Nepal (Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat, 9.30am*)

 * All start times quoted are in local Oman time.

Ireland’s Qualifier fixtures 

• 14-15 October: Warm up matches (TBA)

• 18 October: Ireland v Hong Kong (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, 2.10pm*)

• 19 October: Ireland v UAE (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, 7.30pm*)

• 21 October: Ireland v Oman (ADC 1, Abu Dhabi, 2.10pm*)

• 23 October: Ireland v Canada (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, 2.10pm*)

• 25 October: Ireland v Jersey (ADC 1, Abu Dhabi, 10am*)

• 26 October: Ireland v Nigeria (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, 10am*)

* All start times quoted are in local UAE time.