Cricket Ireland names 15-player squad for Women’s T20 World Cup

Cricket Ireland has announced its 15-player squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5. Captain Gaby Lewis will lead the side in what will be her first major ICC tournament as skipper, though she will miss a preparatory tri-series while recovering from a leg injury.

The squad announcement brought mixed news on the injury front. Off-spinner Aimee Maguire has been cleared to participate after recovering from injury. However, medium pacer Jane Maguire, Aimee's sister, has been ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury sustained during a domestic series.

Lewis, who was the top run-scorer in the recent T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, injured her leg while playing for Lancashire in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup. She is being rested from the upcoming T20I tri-series in Clontarf, which features Ireland, Pakistan, and the West Indies and begins on May 28. Vice-captain Orla Prendergast, the world's seventh-ranked T20I all-rounder, will lead Ireland in that series. Lewis has stated she expects to be fully fit for the World Cup.

Ireland has been placed in Group 2 of the tournament, alongside hosts England, reigning champions...