News

DUBLIN – Cricket Ireland has today named its 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier that will be played in Kathmandu, Nepal from 18 January to 1 February 2026.

Gaby Lewis will once more lead the squad, with Orla Prendergast her deputy.

The Irish squad will depart on the 6 January 2026 for a preparation camp in Dubai for six days before heading to Nepal on 12 January. The squad will play two official warm-up matches against Nepal and Zimbabwe.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SQUAD

• ⁠Gaby Lewis (c)
• Ava Canning
• Christina Coulter Reilly
• Alana Dalzell
• Laura Delany
• Sarah Forbes
• Amy Hunter
• Arlene Kelly
• Aimee Maguire
• Jane Maguire
• Lara McBride
• Cara Murray
• Leah Paul
• ⁠Orla Prendergast
• Rebecca Stokell

THE TOURNAMENT

The participating teams in the Qualifier will be Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand, USA and Zimbabwe.

• Teams are split into two groups of five teams (listed below) – Ireland is in Group A.
• The top three teams in each group after the completion of the group matches proceed to the Super Six stage. The top four teams after the Super Six stage will qualify for the T20 World Cup.

The Groups are:

Group A

• Bangladesh
• Ireland
• PNG
• Namibia
• USA

Group B

• Scotland
• Thailand
• Zimbabwe
• Netherlands
• Nepal

The Ireland matches in the Group Stage are:

• 14 January 2026: Ireland Women v Nepal Women (warm-up match)
• 16 January 2026: Ireland Women v Zimbabwe Women (warm-up match)

• 18 January 2026: Ireland Women v PNG Women (Group Match)
• 22 January 2026: Ireland Women v USA Women (Group Match)
• 24 January 2026: Ireland Women v Bangladesh Women (Group Match)
• 26 January 2026: Ireland Women v Namibia Women (Group Match)

• 28 January 2026: Super Six Stage – matches
• 30 January 2026: Super Six Stage – matches
• 2 February 2026: Super Six Stage – matches

Graeme West, Director of High Performance, said:

“The recent tour to South Africa demonstrated how tough international cricket can be, but also how our group can learn, adapt and grow for the experience. While that South Africa series was an opportunity to hone skills and identify areas of further improvement required, the upcoming Qualifier will be the time when the squad will need to put that experience into action on the field.

“Nepali wickets are traditionally low and slow, so we are taking three frontline spinners in the squad as they will likely play a key role in the expected conditions. We have no major injury concerns, with Amy Hunter expected to fully recover from the niggle that kept her out of the 3^rd ODI against South Africa recently.

“We wish Lloyd [Tennant, head coach} and the squad well – and look forward to a hopefully successful qualifying campaign and another appearance by Ireland at a major event in June 2026.”