Ireland Cricket Board has unveiled its squads for the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan and the tri-series, signaling the start of their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2024. The squad for the Pakistan T20Is and the tri-series comprises 14 players, with ace pacer Josh Little set to join as the 15th member for the T20 World Cup squad. Led by the explosive opener Paul Stirling, the squad boasts experienced players like Andrew Balbirnie and George Dockrell.
The action-packed schedule begins with a three-match T20I series against Pakistan, slated to take place in Dublin from May 10 to 14. Following this, Ireland will head to the Netherlands to participate in the tri-series scheduled from May 18 to 24. The format of the series will be a round-robin format, with the top team in the standings emerging as the champion.
Coach Heinrich Malan expressed the team’s focus on treating the upcoming games as crucial preparation for the T20 World Cup rather than mere warm-up matches. He emphasized the importance of adapting to the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket and honing the skill of winning under evolving game situations.
Malan further highlighted the gradual development of the squad over the past 18 months, ensuring that the necessary skill sets are in place for competitive performances. While Josh Little continues his stint in the IPL, he is expected to join the squad ahead of the T20 World Cup.
With Ireland placed in Group A alongside cricketing powerhouses like Pakistan and India, as well as USA and Canada, their T20 World Cup journey begins on June 5 against the inaugural champions. Subsequent matches against USA and Canada on June 7 and 14 respectively will lead to a crucial showdown against Pakistan on June 16, rounding off their group stage fixtures. The team is gearing up for the challenges ahead with determination and readiness to tackle whatever comes their way on the road to the T20 World Cup 2024.
