(Cricket news) Clontarf’s Fionn Hand will be joining Ireland Men’s T20 squad as a replacement for Conor Olphert who was forced to withdraw due to injury. Olphert sustained a knee injury and will begin rehab immediately after undergoing an MRI scan. The change in the squad comes a day before Ireland’s T20I series against New Zealand at Stormont. 

Andrew White, Chair of National Men’s Selectors, said: “It is obviously a great disappointment for Conor to sustain the injury at this time, just after impressing selectors during the inter-pro season and making his debut in the recent T20I series against India. Hopefully with rehab commencing immediately we can get Conor back fit as soon as possible. Fionn Hand comes in as bowling cover, after impressing during the inter-pros, and his batting will be an obvious bonus if he is selected to play.”

Ireland Men’s T20I squad for New Zealand series

Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
 
Ireland Men v New Zealand Men series

Monday 18 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 1st T20I (Stormont)
Wednesday 20 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 2nd T20I (Stormont)
Friday 22 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 3rd T20I (Stormont)

Also read: Takeaways as India win low-scoring ODI series against England