Cricket Ireland announced on 6 November 2026 a 14-player Ireland Women's squad for the ICC Emerging Nations Trophy, to be played in the UAE from 12 to 25 November 2026. Gaby Lewis will captain the side, Lara Maritz receives an international recall and two uncapped players are in line for debuts.
What Was Announced
Amy Hunter is vice-captain in the absence of Orla Prendergast, who has been granted approval to miss the tournament to play in the Women's Big Bash League. Rebecca Stokell, Leah Paul, who has made herself unavailable, and Christina Coulter Reilly, who has an injury, are also missing.
Zara Craig, a 23-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder, and Abbi Harrison, a 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, are in line to make their international debuts if selected. Maritz, 25, has 43 caps and last played for Ireland in 2021.
The squad:
- Gaby Lewis (c)
- Amy Hunter (vc)
- Zara Craig
- Alana Dalzell
- Laura Delany
- Georgina Dempsey
- Abbi Harrison
- Louise Little
- Aimee Maguire
- Jane Maguire
- Lara Maritz
- Lara McBride
- Kia McCartney
- Cara Murray
What It Means
The expanded tournament features five Full Members and five Associates. Ireland are in Group A with Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Scotland and the UAE. Their group fixtures are against Sri Lanka on 12 November, the UAE on 13 November, PNG on 16 November and Scotland on 18 November, with the Super Sixes on 20, 22 and 23 November and the final on 25 November.
Graeme West, Cricket Ireland's Director of High Performance, said that with no international cricket scheduled until March, the event gives the Performance Squad a chance to put six weeks of training into high-level competition as Ireland build towards the 2028 T20 World Cup.
Source: Cricket Ireland release.