“He gives our attack so much more balance and potency”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Boyd Rankin will represent Ireland in the World Twenty20 in India next month after he was included in the 15-man squad.
Rankin had left Ireland to play for England in 2013/14, but his career with the latter only lasted seven ODIs, two Twenty20 Internationals and one Test match, before he decided to return to his country of birth.
Rankin has impressed ever since returning to Ireland as he picked up six wickets during his side’s ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Papua New Guinea between January 31 and February 3.
“We are really looking forward to this World Cup, particularly with the return of Boyd Rankin,” Alan Lewis, Ireland’s chairman of selectors, said. “He gives our attack so much more balance and potency, as seen in our Intercontinental Cup win last week.
“As such a consistent performer I am also delighted to see Tim Murtagh in the squad for an event like this particularly as he missed the 2015 World Cup is such disappointing circumstances.
“These are the events that players want to excel in so hopefully with the lead time involved and the energy the team always show we can emerge out on top of the group in the first phase.”
Ireland head coach John Wright added: “The squad has got a real balance to it, with that blend of youth and experience that every coach likes. Ireland are now regular performers on the world stage so there’s no fear or intimidation factors.
“It’s another great chance for the squad to showcase Irish cricket to a global audience, and the guys are determined to prove they belong at the top level of the sport.”
Ireland, who will be led by William Porterfield, will have to qualify for the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20 by finishing atop their qualifying group, which includes Netherlands, Oman and Bangladesh.
Ireland will begin their World Twenty20 campaign against Oman on March 9 in Dharamsala.
Ireland World T20 Squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Andrew Poynter, Stuart Poynter, Boyd Rankin, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young