IRE vs SA: Graham Hume replaces Craig Young for South Africa T20Is

DUBLIN – Craig Young has been forced to withdraw from the Ireland Men’s squad set to play against South Africa in two T20 Internationals this week, with Graham Hume brought in as a replacement.

The change came on the eve of the squad’s departure to Bristol for the series with the squad flying out of Dublin this afternoon. Hume, 31, was handed a central retainer contract in May and made his one-day international debut this month against New Zealand.

The 14-member team, captained by skipper Andrew Balbirnie, who recently competed against New Zealand in the recently concluded three-match T20I series, has been preserved for the forthcoming series against South Africa and Afghanistan as Cricket Ireland announced on Wednesday.

On August 3 and 5, Ireland will play South Africa in Bristol. Ireland will then meet Afghanistan in a five-match T20I series, which is to be played between August 9 to August 17.

India played two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28, winning both games by a tight margin to take the series 2-0. Ireland just hosted New Zealand in their home summer of 2022, losing both the ODI and T20I series 3-0 despite having numerous opportunities to pull off incredible victories.

The provisional Ireland team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is anticipated to be unveiled in late August, followed by the official squad’s confirmation in early September.

Ireland Men’s T20I squad

Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker.

IRELAND MEN’S REMAINING HOME FIXTURE SCHEDULE FOR 2022

Ireland Men v South Africa Men T20I series

Wednesday 3 August: Ireland v South Africa, 1st T20I (Bristol)
Friday 5 August: Ireland v South Africa, 2nd T20I (Bristol)

Ireland Men v Afghanistan T20I series

Tuesday 9 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 1st T20I (Stormont)
Thursday 11 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 2nd T20I (Stormont)
Friday 12 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 3rd T20I (Stormont)
Monday 15 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 4th T20I (Stormont)
Wednesday 17 August: Ireland v Afghanistan, 5th T20I (Stormont)