Ireland will visit Bangladesh next month for two Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is. But the star Irish opening batter Paul Stirling and premier fast bowler Josh Little will not be part of the longest format games.
Stirling will focus on white-ball cricket this year as Ireland looks to secure World Cup qualification. Meanwhile, Little will only play the ODI matches against Bangladesh and will miss the rest of the tour. The left-arm seamer and Stirling will also not feature in the Sri Lanka Test game starting from April 18. Notably, it would be after four years that Ireland will appear in Tests when they face Bangladesh in Dhaka from April 4.
Ireland coach Heinrich Malan spoke about the exclusion of Stirling from the longest format and cited workload management as the reason behind resting the latter.
“There’s a lot of cricket in that space but he’s also got a fair few commitments around the T20 leagues, and for us it’s working back from us pinnacle events as a Cricket Ireland men’s side,” Malan was reported saying to BBC.
“One of those pinnacle events is playing Bangladesh at home and trying to qualify outright for the World Cup, so it’s just trying to find an opportunity for him to be at home for a little period of time,” he added.
Malan also shed light on Little’s omission and said he had the same sort of conversation with the Indian Premier League-contracted pacer.
“Going to the IPL is a life-changing opportunity and it creates opportunity for us to keep broadening our squad and our environment,” said Malan.
“For us it’s getting to the start of May when we play Bangladesh in the World Cup Super League qualification, and trying to have a full squad to pick from when people are fit and ready to play cricket.”If we can have the six weeks in the sub-continent, we can expose a couple of young players to have some opportunity and experience,” he concluded.
Ireland squad for Bangladesh tour
Ireland ODI squad: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.
Ireland T20I squad: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Barry McCarthy, Conor Olphert, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.
Ireland Test squad: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White
Ireland squad for Sri Lanka tour
Ireland Test squad: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.
Ireland ODI squad: Paul Stirling (c), Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Conor Olphert, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
