(Cricket news) After completing a mandatory six day quarantine period, the Ireland Men’s T20 cricket team have been training under the scorching UAE heat for the last three days. However, Ben White is enjoying the preparations ahead of Tuesday’s warm up game against Scotland.

Speaking after the third day of training, Ben White said: “The first three days of training have been really enjoyable – dusting off a few post-quarantine cobwebs. It’s been a bit of a shock to the system getting out in the heat, but the facilities have been second-to-none and the lads have really got stuck in during training and I feel it’ll stand to us come game day.”

“I think conditions during the upcoming games will be pretty similar to the last few days – warm and humid in the morning, and then it should burn off and get hot for the afternoon. We anticipate the pitches will be pretty batter-friendly, with some pace and bounce…and fingers crossed something in it for the spinners! Overall we’ve been training with a great intensity ahead of a busy schedule, but we’re all raring to go.”

The 23 year old made his international debut against South Africa and has claimed three wickets in four caps. His dominant performances in the Inter-Provincial Series for the Northern Knights earned him a place in the Ireland Men’s T20 World Cup squad. White was the leading wicket taker in the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy competition with an average of 10.00, 17 wickets and his best of 5-13.

T20 WORLD CUP – THE DETAILS

FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Pre-T20 World Cup – preparation period

5 October 2021: Ireland v Scotland – warm-up match (ICC Academy Oval 2; start 9am local time)

7 October 2021: Ireland v UAE – 1st T20I (ICC Academy Oval 1; start 9am local time)

8 October 2021: Ireland v UAE – 2nd T20I (ICC Academy Oval 1; start 9am local time)

10 October 2021: Ireland v UAE – 3rd T20I (ICC Academy Oval 1; start 9am local time)

Official T20 World Cup warm-up matches

12 October 2021: Ireland v Papua New Guinea – warm-up T20I (Abu Dhabi; start 2pm local time)

14 October 2021: Ireland v Bangladesh – warm-up T20I (Abu Dhabi; start 6pm local time)

T20 World Cup – Round 1

18 October: Ireland v Netherlands (Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; starts 10am GMT)

20 October: Ireland v Sri Lanka (Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; starts 2pm GMT)

22 October: Ireland v Namibia (Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah; starts 10am GMT)

The top two teams from Round 1 go into the Group Stage. 

THE SQUAD

A preliminary 18-player squad was recently announced – this will be reduced to 15 for the T20 World Cup tournament, however, the three other players will still travel to the UAE as reserves.

Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Graham Kennedy, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.

Head Coach: Graham Ford

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