Ireland unveil squad for T20I series against Pakistan

DUBLIN: Cricket Ireland on Friday named a 14-member squad to face Pakistan in the home T20I series, scheduled to commence here on 6 August.

Offspinner Freya Sargent, who did not feature in Ireland’s most recent white-ball series against Zimbabwe, has made her way back into the squad.

Along with Sargent, Lara McBride, who made her ODI and T20I debuts against Zimbabwe last month, has also retained his place in the squad.

Gaby Lewis, who is also in line to become the second Irish woman after Laura Delany to play 100 T20Is, will continue to lead the side.

Following the squad announcement, Ciara O’Brien, the national women’s selector, hailed the Pakistan women’s team as a more formidable opponent.

“After a strong 5-0 series win against Zimbabwe Women across formats under new head coach Lloyd Tennant, it’s great to be able to move so quickly into what will understandably be a much tougher assignment against Pakistan Women in Clontarf for this T20I series,” she said.

“With the upcoming matches, our preparation continues for the ICC Women’s T20I World Cup Europe Qualifier in the Netherlands in a few weeks, so we’re looking to see this latest momentum continued by the squad at Clontarf,” she concluded.

Ireland T20I squad for Pakistan Series

Gaby Lewis (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Laura Delany, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Stokell

Schedule for Pakistan’s T20I series against Ireland

August 6 – First T20I at Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin
August 8 – Second T20I at Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin
August 10 – Third T20I at Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin

READ: Henry, Santner help New Zealand outplay Zimbabwe in first Test