Ireland announce squad for South Africa and Afghanistan T20Is

DUBLIN – Cricket Ireland has today announced a 14-player squad for Ireland Men’s T20 International series against South Africa to be played in Bristol on 3 and 5 August 2022, and the first three matches of the subsequent five-match T20 International series against Afghanistan to be played at Stormont. Selectors have kept faith with the T20I squad that faced New Zealand in a three-match series last week.

Ireland Men’s T20I squad

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.

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

“We are now getting down to the final stages of our preparations as we build towards the Men’s T20 World Cup in October. The squad has faced two high-quality opponents in recent weeks, in India and New Zealand, and have stern tests ahead against South Africa and Afghanistan.“We believe, while the results have not gone our way, the brand of cricket that [head coach] Heinrich Malan is instilling in the squad is showing positive signs and the players are beginning to equip themselves well as they build towards the World Cup in Australia. We have, however, sought to give ourselves a level of selection flexibility later in the Afghan series, and will announce a squad for the final two T20Is of that series in due course.”

It is expected that a provisional ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad will be announced in late August, with the final squad confirmed in early September. The squad will undertake a series of match-scenario and skills-based training camps in September behind closed doors as they complete their preparations for the tournament.

SPONSOR SUPPORT: Cricket Ireland would like to thank its primary team sponsor, Exchange22, for their support for Irish cricket.

IRELAND MEN’S REMAINING HOME FIXTURE SCHEDULE FOR 2022

Ireland Men v South Africa Men T20I series

Wednesday 3 August: Ireland v South Africa, 1st T20I (Bristol)
Friday 5 August: Ireland v South Africa, 2nd T20I (Bristol)

Ireland Men v Afghanistan T20I series

Tuesday 9 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 1st T20I (Stormont)
Thursday 11 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 2nd T20I (Stormont)
Friday 12 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 3rd T20I (Stormont)
Monday 15 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 4th T20I (Stormont)
Wednesday 17 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 5th T20I (Stormont)