(Cricket news) Cricket Ireland today announced the 14-player squad that will play in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Oman. The tournament will be held after the second week of February 2022. The top two teams from this Qualifier event qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November 2022.
The squad has 14-players, with two additional travelling reserves as part of the tournament’s COVID rules.
Ireland Men’s squad:
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young. The Travelling reserve are Neil Rock and Ben White
The squad will leave Dublin for Oman on 4 February, where they will play some matches during the lead-in period to the Qualifier. The details of these fixtures will be announced in due course.
The Group Stage fixtures
18 February: Ireland Men v UAE Men (2pm start, local time; Academy 1), 19 February: Ireland Men v Bahrain Men (2pm start, local time; Academy 2), 21 February: Ireland Men v Germany Men (10am start, local time; Academy 1)
Top two teams from each Group progress to a semi-final, the two winners of these then qualify for the T20 World Cup.
Andrew White, Chair of National Men’s Selectors, said: “We were all pleased to see the resilience, grit, and fight by the squad on display in the West Indies – these are characteristics that have always been part of Irish cricket, and I know the team is looking to exemplify this in their on-field performances. As we look ahead to the T20 World Cup Qualifier, we know it will be a series of tough, hard-fought games, but hopefully, we can carry the confidence and momentum of the recent series forward to the Qualifier and beyond. The individual performances of the likes of Andy McBrine and Harry Tector were well reported, but the willingness of the squad as a whole to battle through a challenging tour and finish the way they did is a great credit to them.
“I know that the players and coaches were as disappointed as the fans about the early exit from the T20 World Cup last year – but, I also am aware how keenly this group is to rectify the failings of the past. It’s only a short turn around period between the West Indies series and the Qualifier, but it will be enough for the squad to recharge and be ready for an important tournament ahead.”
Also read: South Africa defeat Ireland by 153 runs in the Under-19s World Cup
