Ireland name T20I squad for India series

The series against India, the No.1 ranked team in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Men's Team Rankings, will be the first T20I action for Ireland since securing a spot in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The squad mainly comprises players who were part of the successful World Cup qualifying campaign last month. However, there are notable inclusions like the recall of Leinster Lightning all-rounder Fionn Hand and the return of Gareth Delany, who was recovering from a wrist injury sustained in Zimbabwe in June.

"The recent qualifying campaign in Scotland was the first stage of our strategic planning for next June’s T20 World Cup," Andrew White, Ireland Men’s national selector, said.

"We currently have around 15 T20 Internationals 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 have identified.

“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.

He further stressed the need to provide exposure and experience to a pool of players who are being considered for the World Cup squad, considering the limited time between now and the end of the 2023 domestic season.

"I would expect that all of the 15 players named in the India series squad will feature at some point," White said.

Ireland T20I squad: 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.

India tour of Ireland fixtures

• 18 August: Ireland Men v India Men – 1st T20I (local time 3pm)
• 20 August: Ireland Men v India Men – 2nd T20I (local time 3pm)
• 23 August: Ireland Men v India Men – 3rd T20I (local time 3pm)