Arlene Kelly claimed the Player of the Match award in Kathmandu on Sunday as the Girls in Green trounced minnows Thailand by 62 runs to confirm their participation at the T20 World Cup which will be staged in England this summer.

Paul Stirling and his Ireland team landed in Colombo last night with a week to finalise preparations before their crucial opening T20 World Cup match against hosts Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Whisper it quietly, but Ireland appear in good shape ahead of the T20 World Cup that gets underway in Sri Lanka and India next weekend.

Scotland and Ireland joined Netherlands and Bangladesh in the four slots available for the T20 World Cup later this summer.

Ireland Women sealed their berth at the T20 World Cup with a comprehensive victory by 62 runs against Thailand.

Ireland U19s ended their World Cup on Friday with a crushing 191-run defeat by Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club.

Orla Prendergast and Jane Maguire spearheaded a superb bowling performance in Kathmandu on Friday that delivered a stunning 98-run victory over the Netherlands that all but ensured Ireland will qualify for the T20 World Cup.

Eight Associate Nations will compete at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Here is a closer look at their paths to the competition and some potential names to watch, starting with the debutants.

North West umpire Roly Black has been named in the officials panel for the forthcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Ireland produced a clinical all-round display to beat hosts UAE by 57 runs in the first of their two-game series in Dubai.

It was an end of an era on Tuesday night as NW President Connie McAllister stood down after a decade at the helm.

Gaby Lewis played a lone hand again in Kathmandu on Wednesday as Ireland failed to chase down 160 to beat Scotland in their first Super Six clash at the T20 World Cup qualifiers.

Raymond Mitchell was confirmed as the new Chairman of the NWCU at the AGM, taking over at the helm from Brian Dougherty, who stepped down after seven years.

Bangladesh and the Netherlands have booked two of the four available spots at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 as the Super Six stage of the Qualifier got underway.

Brigade all-rounder Ryan Barr has confirmed he is joining Burndennett for the forthcoming campaign.

NIACUS, in conjunction with the NCU, are in desperate need for new umpires to officiate in the upcoming season.

Zainullah Ihsan is the sole first-time callup, with the Afghan-born fast bowler having recently qualified to play for Scotland.

Grant Stewart hit three successive sixes in the last over to secure a stunning victory for Italy over Ireland in the dead rubber of their three-match T20 international series.

Gaby Lewis continued her run of form in Kathmandu on Monday with a steady 33 as Ireland completed a regulation seven-wicket victory over Namibia to ease into the Super Six stage of the T20 World Cup qualifiers.

THERE’S no faulting Ireland’s preparation or efforts, but they just don’t seem to click at T20 World Cups. Only twice in nine tournaments have they reached the second phase, and since 2016 they have lost to associate sides Netherlands, Oman, Namibia and Canada.

Reuben Wilson took three wickets in Windhoek as Ireland gave the West Indies a scare before losing their first Super Sixes match at the U19 World Cup.

Harry Tector unselfishly gave up the chance of a first T20 international century in Dubai on Sunday as Ireland completed a second victory over Italy in their three-match series.

Dangerous coke, grumpy officials and chilly temperatures for Niall Walsh on his continued adventures in Nepal following Ireland Women as they attempt to gain one of the four qualification slots on offer for the T20 World Cup.

The ICC has announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup after the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to participate in the tournament per the published match schedule.

Adam Leckey took three wickets and followed up with a solid 44 to claim the Player of the Match award in Windhoek as Ireland squeezed past Japan by four wickets to secure a place in the Super Sixes of the U19 World Cup.

Dave Sirha takes with Kevin O'Brien about Italy's upcoming series against Ireland and the T20 World Cup.

Three franchises have reportedly been sold for up to USD 15 million each which sounds an enormous sum until it’s realised that figure is spread over 10 years, with no allowance for inflation, and is half the valuation that was floated only last year.

All but one game goes to the last over as the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier continues in Nepal.

Leinster have confirmed the signing of NZ born Thomas O'Connor for the 2026 season as their overseas player.

Reuben Wilson and his skipper Olly Riley gave supporters a glimpse of the future in Windhoek but their efforts were in vain as Sri Lanka inflicted a second defeat on Ireland at the U19 World Cup, by 106 runs.

Gavin Roulston has joined Brigade from Bready ahead of the start of the 2026 season.

Woodvale have confirmed that Ruhan Pretorius has signed a contract extension, committing his future to the club until the conclusion of the 2030 season.

Leinster have confirmed the signing of Cork born Luke Horgan for the 2026 season.

Clontarf recently confirmed their choice of overseas players for both their men's and women's teams.

The Hills have signed Australian Liam Blackford for the 2026 season, but are losing opening bowler Sean McNicholl who is off to pastures new at Phoenix.

Rob O’Brien flew the flag for Dublin’s premier cricketing clan in Windhoek yesterday with a battling 79 as Ireland U19s opened their World Cup campaign against Australia with a eight-wicket defeat.

Handle with care. Dave Sirha takes a look at the prospects for the Ireland U19s at the World Cup that gets under way this week in Namibia and South Africa,

With (hopefully) World Cups upcoming for the men and women, not to mention a monumental change with the arrival of a new Cricket Ireland CEO, this year has the capacity to be one of the most important in recent memory. Even if we say that every January.

It was a solid campaign for Bonds Glen who had some good wins on their way to fifth place in the Championship and the cups.

Tanzania produced an incredible fightback to beat Ireland in their final warm-up match ahead of the U19 World Cup in Namibia.

The 860 refers to millimeters and its extra wide cutting span. Near three feet in old money. The main job of the 860 is to mow the overall square. A smaller, more compact machine will cut the wickets.

ENGLAND’S Jacob Bethell equalled a rare feat this week, one he shares with Ireland’s Curtis Campher.

North County have signed Australian all-rounder Lochie Hardy as their overseas player for the upcoming season.