Cricket Ireland has announced its central contracts list for the 2024-25 season, with a significant increase in full-time contracts from 14 to 21 players. In addition to these full-time contracts, four players – Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, and Liam McCarthy – have been granted Retainer Contracts. Full-time contracts span the entire year, whereas Retainer Contracts cover specific periods or series.
Ireland’s chief Men’s Selector Andrew White commented on this development:
“As our talent pool grows, so too does the challenge of selecting central contracts. With an increasing volume of cricket to play both home and away, our need to nurture and develop the talent to compete at the highest level becomes more acute. Selecting the right mix of players to receive central contracts is one of the most consequential decisions we can make as an organisation.”
He further emphasized:
“Our players are our assets, and we are constantly monitoring, reviewing, and discussing the progress and performances of our players to ensure we have the best talent available to the head coach and captain. I congratulate the players receiving contracts in 2024 and look forward to seeing the steady progress and development of the last few years turn into regular success on the field of play.”
A notable omission from this year’s list is 37-year-old off-spinner Simi Singh, who last represented Ireland in the 2022 T20 World Cup. In a significant milestone for gender equality in sports, Cricket Ireland has also offered 12 full-time contracts to their women’s cricketers for the first time.
Ireland Prepares for a Tough Battle Against India in T20 World Cup Opener
Ireland is set to take on Team India in their 2024 T20 World Cup opener in New York on June 5. Despite losing all seven previous T20I matches against India, Ireland is entering the tournament with a wave of confidence. They clinched victories in all three completed games of the tri-series against Scotland and the Netherlands leading up to the World Cup.
Additionally, Ireland gave Pakistan a scare by winning the first game of their recent three-match T20I series before narrowly losing the subsequent two. Led by veteran opener Paul Stirling, Ireland finds itself in Group A, alongside powerhouses like India, Pakistan, Canada, and the USA.
This matchup promises to be an exhilarating test for Ireland as they aim to leverage their recent form and possibly upset one of the tournament’s favorites.
