Ireland will need to step up to make World Cup mark

Whether it be the unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day against Pakistan in 2007, or Kevin O’Brien thumping a rapid century to beat England four years later, Ireland’s history at World Cups is one built upon giant killings.

But if those historic days, and a few more besides against the likes of West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, all helped to create a reputation for over-performance at global showpieces, it has been a contrasting story at T20 World Cups.

Indeed, as Ireland prepare to start their 2026 campaign against co-hosts Sri Lanka on Sunday, the presence of Oman in their group is a reminder that in the shorter format, the shoe has more often been on the other foot.

It was 10 years ago in India that defeat by the tournament debutants first up sent Ireland on their way to one of their six early exits from eight attempts, while it was the same old story in the USA last time around when a 12-run loss to Canada, with an assist from the weather, did the damage.

While Ireland lost three of their six scheduled T20s to the weather during a wholly frustrating home summer in 2025, in the months since they have at least had the benefit of regular cricket.

Harry Tector and Matthew Humphreys led the way for an encouraging T20 win over Bangladesh in November before consecutive losses to surrender the series gave the impression of a side who had run out of steam at the end of the multi-format tour.

A 2-1 series win over Italy followed by a two-game whitewash of the UAE have formed the bulk of preparations for the World Cup, but a final tune-up against Pakistan on Wednesday fell victim to the rain, robbing the side of the chance to step up against the sort of superior opposition they will face in their first two games in Sri Lanka.

Tector and Humphreys continue to lead the way with bat and ball respectively, with the former averaging 43 across his past eight T20 internationals to form a strong middle-order with wicket-keeper Lorcan Tucker.

Ross Adair, who still has Ireland’s most recent T20 century to his name thanks to his knock against South Africa in 2024, appears to have held off the challenge of the younger Tector brother, Tim, to open alongside captain Paul Stirling.

Despite the skipper averaging 20 across the 16 T20s Ireland have played since the last World Cup, the 35-year-old remains the side’s best player against the spin bowling they are sure to face in Sri Lankan conditions.

The bowling resurgence of veteran all-rounder George Dockrell – who took four wickets for 53 runs from 13 overs in the warm-ups – allows for the lengthening of the batting line-up where 23-year-old Ben Calitz will be relied upon to provide some left-handed thump.

It is all, however, expected to be at the expense of a genuine quick. An out-of-sorts Josh Little did not feature in either match against the UAE after not managing a wicket in two games against both Bangladesh and Italy with an economy rate ranging between 9.50 and 13.50.

The player who took a memorable T20 World Cup hat-trick against New Zealand in 2022, and indeed had figures of 4-23 against Sunday’s opposition a year prior, looks likely to start the tournament outside the starting XI.

With Mark Adair, Ireland’s leading T20 wicket-taker there to shoulder the load in terms of seam, it means Malan’s selection can all, in one way or another, take some confidence from their preparations.