Cricket Ireland has confirmed a 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Paul Stirling named captain for the global tournament, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March 2026.
Ireland will be based in Sri Lanka for the Group Stage of the competition, where they have been drawn in a challenging Group B alongside Australia, hosts Sri Lanka, Oman and Zimbabwe. The opening match of Ireland’s campaign will see them face Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday, 8 February.
Preparation for the tournament begins next week, with the squad departing Dublin on 15 January. Ireland will first travel to Dubai, where they will play five T20 internationals as part of a warm-up programme designed to fine-tune combinations and build momentum ahead of the World Cup.
That schedule includes a three-match T20I series against Italy, followed by two matches against the United Arab Emirates, before the team moves on to Sri Lanka for an official warm-up fixture against Zimbabwe.
Stirling, one of the most experienced players in the global T20 game, will once again lead the side, with Lorcan Tucker appointed as vice-captain. The squad blends established international performers with emerging talent, reflecting a largely settled core while continuing to evolve ahead of a demanding international calendar.
Speaking after the squad announcement, Andrew White, National Men’s Selector, said anticipation for the tournament was high after lessons learned from recent campaigns.
“After a memorable 2022 tournament, we probably weren’t at our best in 2024 – and have been waiting to rectify that ever since,” he said. White added that the past 18 months had been used to test tactical approaches and player roles, resulting in a group he believes is well prepared for conditions in the subcontinent.
Twelve members of the 2024 World Cup squad have been retained, underlining continuity, while Tim Tector, Ben Calitz and Matthew Humphreys are among those adding “a further dynamic nature to the playing group,” according to White.
He acknowledged the difficulty of the group, which sees Ireland face the tournament hosts and reigning champions in their opening two matches, but stressed the squad would approach those fixtures with confidence rather than caution.
Ireland’s Group Stage schedule also includes matches against Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe, with games split between Colombo and Kandy. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super 8 stage, followed by semi-finals and the final on 8 March.
Image Credit: Cricket Ireland
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