Ireland’s 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is led by captain Gaby Lewis, with all-rounder Orla Prendergast named vice-captain. Notably, this marks Ireland’s return to the T20 World Cup after missing the 2024 edition.
Furthermore, senior all-rounder Laura Delany was ruled out by injury and replaced by 18-year-old Alice Tector. Additionally, five players earn their maiden T20 World Cup call-ups.
Ireland open Group 2 against Scotland on 13 June 2026 at Old Trafford in Manchester. Moreover, the tournament runs from 12 June to 5 July across England and Wales.
Ireland Women’s Squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Full 15-Player List
Here is the complete Ireland women’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, originally announced by Cricket Ireland on 20 May 2026 and updated on 27 May 2026 to reflect the Tector-for-Delany change.
| # | Player | Role | Batting Style | Bowling Style |
| 1 | Gaby Lewis (c) | Top-order Batter | Right-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 2 | Orla Prendergast (vc) | Pace All-rounder | Right-hand | Right-arm medium-fast |
| 3 | Amy Hunter (wk) | Wicketkeeper-batter | Right-hand | — |
| 4 | Leah Paul | Spin All-rounder | Left-hand | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| 5 | Rebecca Stokell | Top-order Batter | Right-hand | Right-arm leg-break |
| 6 | Louise Little | Top-order Batter | Right-hand | — |
| 7 | Alice Tector | Batter (replacement) | Right-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 8 | Christina Coulter Reilly | Batter (debutant) | Right-hand | — |
| 9 | Lara McBride | Batter (debutant) | Right-hand | — |
| 10 | Arlene Kelly | Pace All-rounder | Right-hand | Right-arm medium |
| 11 | Georgina Dempsey | Pacer | Right-hand | Right-arm medium-fast |
| 12 | Ava Canning | Pacer (debutant) | Right-hand | Right-arm medium |
| 13 | Aimee Maguire | Spinner (debutant) | Right-hand | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| 14 | Alana Dalzell | Spinner (debutant) | Right-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 15 | Cara Murray | Leg-spinner | Right-hand | Right-arm leg-break |
Notably, Laura Delany (132 T20Is, 1,659 runs, 96 wickets) misses the tournament due to injury. Consequently, 18-year-old Alice Tector (younger sister of Ireland men’s batter Harry Tector) joined the squad as her replacement.
Squad Breakdown by Role: Batters, All-Rounders, Spinners & Pacers
Ireland’s squad blends an experienced core with five maiden World Cup names. Specifically, the side carries five top-order batters, one keeper, three all-rounders, three spinners, and three pacers.
Top-Order Batters
Captain Gaby Lewis anchors the top order. Furthermore, Rebecca Stokell, Louise Little, Christina Coulter Reilly, and Lara McBride round out the batting unit.
Wicketkeeper-Batter
Amy Hunter takes the gloves as the specialist keeper-batter. Additionally, she remains one of Ireland’s most reliable middle-order options across formats.
All-Rounders
Vice-captain Orla Prendergast leads the all-round group alongside Arlene Kelly and Leah Paul. Consequently, the side can flex batting and bowling combinations across match-ups.
Spinners
Leg-spinner Cara Murray offers genuine wrist-spin variety. Meanwhile, debutants Aimee Maguire (left-arm orthodox) and Alana Dalzell (off-spin) deepen the slow-bowling unit.
Pace Bowling Department
Georgina Dempsey and Arlene Kelly head the seam attack, supported by debutant Ava Canning. Moreover, captain Lewis can also bowl off-spin as a sixth option.
Key Players to Watch in Ireland’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
Several names carry the bulk of expectations for the Irish side. Specifically, the spine of the squad combines Lewis at the top with Prendergast and Kelly providing all-round depth.
Gaby Lewis (Captain, Top-Order Batter)
Lewis leads Ireland at her maiden T20 World Cup as captain. Notably, she was the top run-getter at the 2026 Global Qualifier, with 276 runs in seven matches.
Orla Prendergast (Vice-Captain, Pace All-Rounder)
Prendergast offers genuine all-round value at both ends. Furthermore, she will captain Ireland in the tri-series as Lewis recovers from a leg injury sustained before the tournament.
Arlene Kelly (Pace All-Rounder)
Kelly was the second-highest wicket-taker at the 2026 T20 World Cup Global Qualifier. Specifically, her seam variations and lower-order hitting make her a vital all-rounder in this Ireland side.
Amy Hunter (Wicketkeeper-Batter)
Hunter brings rare experience for her age behind the stumps. Additionally, her batting depth gives Ireland flexibility through the middle order.
Leah Paul (Spin All-Rounder)
Paul’s left-arm spin and middle-order hitting offer a dual contribution. Moreover, her partnership with Lewis at the top of the order has been productive in recent series.
Alice Tector (Replacement Debutant)
Tector is the youngest member of the squad at 18. Furthermore, the younger sister of Ireland men’s internationals Harry and Tim Tector arrives off the back of strong returns in the Cricket Ireland Women’s Super T20 Series, where she scored 109 runs at a strike rate of 118.47.
Five Original T20 World Cup Debutants in Ireland’s Squad
Five players were named for their first Women’s T20 World Cup when the squad was first unveiled. Specifically, the selection reflects a generational refresh after a difficult 2024 cycle.
- Ava Canning — right-arm medium-pacer adding seam depth.
- Christina Coulter Reilly — top-order batter rewarded for domestic form.
- Alana Dalzell — off-spinner offering another slow-bowling option.
- Aimee Maguire — left-arm orthodox spinner adding variety in the middle overs.
- Lara McBride — middle-order batter rewarded for recent runs.
Additionally, Alice Tector joins this group as injury replacement and is yet to make her T20I debut. Therefore, the final squad effectively carries six players new to the global stage.
Gaby Lewis Leads Ireland at Her Maiden T20 World Cup as Captain
Lewis captains Ireland at the first T20 World Cup of her career as captain. Specifically, she was instrumental in Ireland’s qualification, finishing as the leading run-scorer at the Global Qualifier earlier in 2026.
Furthermore, Orla Prendergast continues as vice-captain. Notably, she captained the side during the pre-tournament tri-series in Clontarf while Lewis managed a leg injury.
Graeme West, Cricket Ireland’s Director of High Performance, called Delany’s injury withdrawal a big miss for the side. However, the team management has backed teenager Tector to seize her opportunity.
Ireland’s Group 2 Opponents at Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Ireland sit in Group 2. Specifically, they face hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Scotland.
| Team | Captain | Note |
| Ireland | Gaby Lewis | Returning after missing 2024 edition |
| England | Nat Sciver-Brunt | Hosts and 2009 champions |
| New Zealand | Amelia Kerr | Defending champions |
| West Indies | Hayley Matthews | 2016 T20 WC winners |
| Sri Lanka | Chamari Athapaththu | 2024 Women’s Asia Cup champions |
| Scotland | Kathryn Bryce | Second T20 WC appearance |
Ireland’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Match Schedule
Ireland play five group-stage matches across four English venues. Specifically, the campaign starts with a home-nation derby against Scotland and ends at Bristol against West Indies.
| Date | Match | Opponent | Venue (Start, BST) |
| 13 June (Sat) | 1 | Scotland | Old Trafford, Manchester (10:30) |
| 16 June (Tue) | 2 | England | Hampshire Bowl, Southampton (18:30) |
| 19 June (Fri) | 3 | New Zealand | Hampshire Bowl, Southampton (18:30) |
| 23 June (Tue) | 4 | Sri Lanka | Bristol County Ground, Bristol (14:30) |
| 27 June (Sat) | 5 | West Indies | Bristol County Ground, Bristol (14:30) |
Pre-Tournament Build-Up: Clontarf Tri-Series Before England
Before the World Cup, Ireland hosted a tri-series at Castle Avenue in Clontarf featuring West Indies and Pakistan from 28 May to 4 June 2026. Furthermore, vice-captain Prendergast captained the side as Lewis managed her leg injury.
- Tri-series venue: Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin
- Opponents: West Indies and Pakistan
- Dates: 28 May to 4 June 2026 (six fixtures)
Consequently, the squad enters the tournament with valuable match practice against top-eight opposition and a clear chance for new names to bed in.
Ireland’s Women’s T20 World Cup Record So Far
Ireland have featured in multiple editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup since 2009. However, the side has never reached the knockout stage of the tournament.
- Most recent edition: 2023 in South Africa (group-stage exit under former captain Laura Delany).
- Missed: The 2024 edition in the UAE after failing to qualify.
- Qualification for 2026: Topped both the group stage and Super Six at the 2026 Global Qualifier in Pakistan.
Therefore, this campaign carries clear ambition. Specifically, Ireland return to the global stage with a young squad eager to make a deeper impact than ever before.
Conclusion: Young Ireland Returns to the T20 World Cup Stage
Ireland’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad mixes Lewis’s leadership with five debutants and an injury-forced teenage replacement. Furthermore, the side balances youth with experience from Prendergast, Kelly, and Hunter.
Consequently, the Irish enter the tournament with realistic ambition. Ireland open against Scotland on 13 June at Old Trafford, eyeing a long-awaited first knockout appearance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
