Jane Maguire was the notable absence from Ireland’s 15-strong squad announced yesterday for next month’s T20 World Cup in England.

The 23-year-old seamer sustained an injury two weeks ago and would not have been fit enough to feature in Group matches against England, Scotland, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. 

Maguire, who plays her club cricket for The Hills, has been one of Ireland’s most consistent performers in the past couple of years and skipper Gaby Lewis admitted she will be a big loss.

“It’s really bad timing,” Lewis said. “Jane is one of our frontline seamers but we’ve got depth in the squad and have Georgina Dempsey and Alana Dalzell back.”

Lewis herself has been recovering from injury and will not be risked in the tri-series of warm-up matches against the West Indies and Pakistan which gets underway in Dublin next Thursday.

Meanwhile, Paul Stirling is also struggling to be fit for next week’s Test match against New Zealand in his home town of Belfast.

Ireland’s record cap holder was forced home early from the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in February with a serious knee injury, and left the field on the first day of the his comeback match in the Emerald Challenge on Monday. 

IRELAND T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD: Gaby Lewis (c), Orla Prendergast (vc), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell.