T20 World Cup: Team Ireland squad named

Northern Ireland's Graham Kennedy has missed out on a place in Ireland's squad for the upcoming T20 Cricket World Cup.

The 22 year old from Londonderry was cut from the original line-up along with Shane Getkate and Barry McCarthy.

All three will still travel with the squad to Abu Dhabi as back-up.

Meanwhile, a number of other players from Northern Ireland still feature in the squad including Belfast's Paul Stirling; Craig Young from Derry and Mark Adair from Holywood.

Andrew White, Chair of National Men’s Selectors, said:

“It was always going to be a very difficult decision to reduce the squad from 18 to 15 – every player out in Dubai at the moment has proven their talent and deserved their chance. The three players who have missed out will still have a role to play in supporting the core squad, and stay on within the team bubble as cover in case of injury or illness.

“Part of the selectors decision-making was around the conditions in both Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, but we also factored in Head Coach Graham Ford’s on-the-ground assessment of what he believes to be our most effective combination of players to win games of cricket.”

“We are confident that the squad of players selected have the ability and the determination to take us into the next round of the tournament, but ultimately it will be about putting together performances that are deserving of it. We wish Fordy and the lads all the best for the challenge ahead, and we’re sure they will do Irish cricket proud. ”

The squad in full:

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

Head Coach: Graham Ford.

FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Pre-T20 World Cup – preparation period

• 5 October 2021: Ireland v Scotland – warm-up match (scorecard)

• 7 October 2021: Ireland v UAE – 1st T20I (scorecard)

• 8 October 2021: Ireland v UAE – 2nd T20I (scorecard)

• 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 Group A will go into Group 1 or 2 of the 2nd Stage. Details about the tournament, 2nd Stage fixtures and venues can be found here: https://www.t20worldcup.com/