Ireland Women have made six changes to their squad for next month's World Cup qualifying tournament in Pakistan.
There's a welcome return for keeper/batter Amy Hunter who has recovered from her foot stress injury and she replaces Joanne Loughran.
There's a first call-up for Coleraine's teenage spinner Kia McCartney and a recall for Cara Murray as Ed Joyce looks to bolster his depleted slow bowling stocks with Clontarf's Freya Sargent injured and The Hills' left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire still undergoing remedial work on her bowling action.
Kia McCartney
Her elder sister Jane Maguire returns, as do Louise Little and Sophie MacMahon. They come in for Georgina Dempsey, Una Raymond-Hoey and Rebecca Stokell.
“This tournament will be a great challenge for testing the depth of the senior squad, while we manage a number of player injuries that have been sustained over the last several months," said Head Coach Ed Joyce who will be leading the 15-player squad for the last time following his decision to step down.
"Given the volume of matches and upcoming tournaments, there is a need to develop a wider talent pool of players ready to step up and cope with the demands of international cricket."
Ireland are vying with hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Thailand and Scotland for one of the two World Cup slots on offer.
They travel to Dubai on Friday for a week-long training camp before travelling to Pakistan where they will play two warm-up matches against West Indies and Scotland.
They begin the tournament proper on Tuesday April 9th when they take on the hosts, before matches against West Indies on the 11th, Bangladesh on the 13th, Thailand on the 15th and finish on the 18th against Scotland.
The two qualifiers will join hosts India, defending champions Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the 13th edition of the Women's World Cup that is taking place in September 2025 across five venues in India.
IRELAND FIXTURES
5 April: Ireland vs West Indies - Gaddafi Stadium (first warm up game) 14:00PM
7 April: Ireland vs Thailand - LCCA (second warm up game) 9:30AM
9 April: Ireland vs Pakistan - Gaddafi Stadium 9:30AM
11 April: Ireland vs West Indies - Gaddafi Stadium 9:30AM
13 April: Ireland vs Bangladesh - Gaddafi Stadium 14:00PM
15 April: Ireland vs Thailand - LCCA 9:30AM
18 April: Ireland vs Scotland Gaddafi Stadium 14:00PM
[Times local to the venue]
IRELAND SQUAD
Gaby Lewis (captain), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Kia McCartney, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast (vice-captain).
Coaching and support staff: Ed Joyce (Head Coach), Glenn Querl (Assistant Coach), James Cameron-Dow (Spin Bowling Coach), Beth Healy (Team Manager), Calum Burdett (Strength & Conditioning), Jay Shelat (Performance Analyst), Niall Ward (Physiotherapist)
IRELAND SQUAD
