Cricket Ireland has unveiled its white-ball squads for the upcoming series against South Africa, which is set to take place from September 28 to October 7 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This series marks Ireland's return to limited-overs action after a challenging performance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where they faced disappointment.
A notable decision in the squad selection is the omission of Test captain Andy Balbirnie from the T20I lineup. Balbirnie, who is Ireland's second-highest T20I run-scorer, has struggled recently, averaging just 24.83 in 12 innings this year with a strike rate of 113.74. His absence from Leinster Lightning’s recent T20 match hinted at potential changes, with Lorcan Tucker likely to step in as Paul Stirling’s opening partner in the T20Is. National selector Andrew White explained the reasoning behind Balbirnie's exclusion, stating that the team is looking to explore "new dynamics at the top of the order" in the T20 format. However, he will remain a crucial part of the ODI setup, returning as an opener for the ODI matches.
White mentioned, "We’ll be looking at introducing a new dynamic, with Andrew Balbirnie sitting out the T20Is on this occasion. There are only two T20Is in the upcoming series, but they will offer important opportunities as we try to increase our levels of performance." He emphasised that this series marks the beginning of a new cycle for Ireland as they prepare for future ICC events, including the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
With two major tournaments on the horizon, the series against South Africa will allow the team to experiment with new combinations and enhance their performance. White noted that "2026 and 2027 are pivotal years for our white-ball squads," framing the South Africa series as the commencement of this new phase.
The ODI squad retains experienced players like Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, and Harry Tector, while the T20I squad sees the inclusion of fresh talents such as Matthew Humphreys and Ben White, indicating Ireland's commitment to future growth. Notably, Josh Little is unavailable for the series due to ongoing commitments in the Caribbean Premier League.
Uncapped leg-spinner Gavin Hoey is anticipated to make his ODI debut, while Gareth Delany is included solely in the T20I squad. The current squads reflect several changes from the T20 World Cup setup, with both Balbirnie and Little absent as Ireland introduces emerging players like Humphreys.
The series consists of two T20Is followed by three ODIs, and Ireland aims to improve upon their recent form after a disappointing World Cup campaign, seeking redemption following previous bilateral series losses to South Africa. This series will provide valuable experience as the team prepares for future ICC tournaments.
Ireland Men’s Squads for the white-ball series against South Africa:
ODI Squad: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young
T20I Squad: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Matthew Humphreys, Graham Hume, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White