T20 World Cup Qualifier: Ireland Women name squad for global event, Gaby Lewis appointed captain

Cricket Ireland announced Ireland Women's squad for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Global Qualifier. The tournament will be played in Kathmandu, Nepal between January 18 and February 1, as Ireland Women will be led by top-order batter Gaby Lewis. Meanwhile, pacer Orla Prendergast has been named as the vice-captain of the 15-member squad.

Apart from Ireland, teams from Bangladesh, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, and the United States of America will also be taking part. The ten-participating teams have been divided into two groups (Group A and Group B) of five each, with Ireland placed in the Group A.

Ireland will be playing a couple of warm-up matches, both against the Group B sides, before starting their main campaign against PNG on January 18. They will then go up against USA, Bangladesh, and Namibia to end their group stage matches. If they finish in the top three of their group, they will be proceeding to the Super Six stage.

As acknowledged via a media release by Cricket Ireland, it can be confirmed that their squad will leave for Dubai on January 6, where the side will engage in an intense preparation camp for six days. They will then leave for Nepal on January 12 for the main event, as they are also set to play a couple of warm-up games, one each against the hosts Nepal and Zimbabwe.

Ireland Women 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

Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2026: Ireland Schedule