Ireland name squad with two uncapped players for Emerging Nations Trophy

Ireland have named a 14-player squad for the Emerging Nations Trophy, a women's Twenty20 international tournament in the United Arab Emirates, and two of the picks have never played for their country. Gaby Lewis will captain the side, with Amy Hunter as vice-captain. The event runs from 12 to 25 November and features 10 teams.

"Uncapped" means a player who has not yet appeared in an official international match for their country. Ireland's two uncapped players are Abbi Harrison, aged 20, and Zara Craig, a 23-year-old seam bowling all-rounder. Seam bowlers swing or cut the ball off the pitch using the seam, the stitched ridge around the ball. Harrison was in Ireland's Women's Under-19s T20 World Cup squads in both 2023 and 2025, and Craig was in the 2023 squad.

The squad also brings back an experienced name. Lara Maritz has 43 caps for Ireland, a cap being one official international appearance. She made her debut in 2017 and last played for the country in 2021, so her recall comes five years on. Kia McCartney has played five one-day internationals for Ireland but no T20 internationals, and she is part of the group too.

Several players are missing. Leah Paul has made herself unavailable for the tournament, and Christina Coulter Reilly is injured. Orla Prendergast has been given permission to miss the event so she can play in the Women's Big Bash League in Australia. Rebecca Stokell is also absent, serving a voluntary suspension after what was described as an inadvertent breach of reporting requirements over her use of prescription medication.

Ireland's full squad is Gaby Lewis, Amy Hunter, Zara Craig, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Abbi Harrison, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Lara Maritz, Lara McBride, Kia McCartney and Cara Murray.

Ireland open their campaign in Group A against Sri Lanka on 12 November. They then face Papua New Guinea, the UAE and Scotland. A T20 international is a shorter form of the women's game, with each side batting for a maximum of 20 overs, so a single poor spell or a late burst can decide a match. Every group game counts towards each team's place in the tournament standings.

For Ireland, the first match will show how the new faces settle in alongside the senior players. Sri Lanka begin the group with the same ticket to prove themselves over four matches.