Ireland announce squads for white-ball series against South Africa; Andrew Balbirnie left out from T20Is
Ireland have announced their ODI and T20I squad for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa to be played in the UAE. The two teams will face each other in two T20Is followed by three ODIs from September 28 to October 7.
The headline-grabbing observation from the squads was the omission of veteran batter Andrew Balbirnie's exclusion from the T20I squad. However, he was selected for the ODIs with selector Andrew White further confirming his opening in the 50-over series.
"One area we will explore on this tour is the top order in our T20 squad. 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 again. Andrew remains very much central to our thoughts and will open the batting in the ODIs," said White as quoted by the ICC.
Ireland are coming off a disappointing 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, losing all three of their completed games to finish at the bottom of Group A.
White reaffirmed that the side's focus is on the 2026 T20 and 2027 ODI World Cups.
"2026 and 2027 are pivotal years for our white-ball squads – those years being the next T20 and 50-over World Cups respectively. Given their timeframes, it means we are looking at this upcoming series against South Africa as the start of a new cycle," White stated.
The South Africa series will be Ireland's first in the white-ball formats since the dismal T20 World Cup. However, the side overcame the disappointment of the tournament with thrilling four-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the one-off Test at the end of July.
The Proteas whitewashed the Irish in the last two bilateral T20I series in 2021 and 2022 by 3-0 and 2-0 margins. Yet, the two teams played out a 1-1 drawn series the last time they met in ODIs in 2021.
Coming to the squads, Paul Stirling will lead Ireland in both the T20Is and the ODIs with several regular names like Mark Adair, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, and Craig Young part of both rosters.
Ireland squad for South Africa ODIs
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, and Craig Young.
Ireland squad for South Africa T20Is
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, and Craig Young.