IRELAND have named a 15-strong squad, captained by Laura Delany, for this month’s T20 World Cup qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates, where they will face group games against Bangladesh, the USA and Scotland.

The top two from that group will play a sudden death semi-final, with the two teams reaching the qualifying final on September 25 also going on to compete in the World Cup in South Africa in February.

Ireland will get an early form guide when they play three T20s against Scotland in Edinburgh next week, and an official warm-up match will follow against Papua New Guinea after they fly to Dubai.

“Although the squad is still relatively young, it is a highly competitive group that is eager to contribute, excel and impress,” Carrie Archer, the chair of selectors, said.

“We last featured in a World Cup in 2018, and so much has changed in the subsequent years with the introduction of professional contracts and the appointment of full-time coaching staff. We feel we are in a far better place today.”

IRELAND SQUAD: Laura Delany (c), Rachel Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Shauna Kavanagh, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Eimear Richardson, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron.