Ireland announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka and India on Friday, with the team’s highest run-scorer in the format, Paul Stirling, set to lead the side once again. Lorcan Tucker will serve as his deputy as Ireland aims to improve on their disappointing 2024 campaign and recapture the magic of their memorable 2022 tournament run.

Experienced core retained with three new faces

Twelve of the fifteen players announced for the mega event who featured in its previous edition are part of the unit, providing continuity and experience. The new additions include Tim Tector, Ben Calitz, and Matthew Humphreys, who will be looking to make their mark on the biggest stage.

Ireland is grouped alongside Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman, and Zimbabwe in Group B at the T20 World Cup and will begin their campaign against Sri Lanka in Colombo on February 8. The challenging group includes the tournament co-hosts and perennial powerhouse Australia, making qualification to the Super Eight stage a formidable task.

Ninth appearance at marquee tournament

This will be Ireland’s ninth appearance at the marquee tournament, with their best performances coming in 2009 and 2022, when they qualified for the second round and defeated former champions West Indies and England. Those victories remain among the most celebrated moments in Irish cricket history and demonstrated the team’s ability to compete against the world’s best.

Selector looking forward to redemption

Ireland National Men’s selector Andrew White is looking forward to an improved showing in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament, acknowledging the disappointment of their 2024 campaign.

“To say we are very much looking forward to this T20 World Cup is an understatement,” he said.

“After a memorable 2022 tournament, we probably weren’t at our best in 2024 - and have been waiting to rectify that ever since. There is no doubt we are in a highly competitive group, which includes playing the tournament hosts, but we have played these sides recently enough in previous editions of this tournament, and will go into these matches with no fear,” he added.

“We have played a fair bit in this part of the world in the last few years, so we will be in a good position to plan and prepare thoroughly, and be ready for the challenge when the time comes.”

Warm-up matches scheduled

The Irish team will lock horns with Italy and the UAE ahead of the global tournament, providing crucial match practice in conditions similar to what they’ll face during the World Cup. These warm-up fixtures will allow the team management to finalize their combinations and strategies.

Ireland’s 15-member T20 World Cup squad