Ireland have confirmed a squad change ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Eighteen-year-old allrounder Alice Tector has been called up as a replacement for Laura Delany, who has been ruled out due to injury. The tournament is set to begin in the United Kingdom in two weeks.
The nature of Delany’s injury has not been disclosed, but it is serious enough to rule her out of both the World Cup and the preparatory tri-series involving West Indies and Pakistan, which began on May 28.
The news came as a blow to Irish cricket. Delany, 33, is Ireland’s most experienced women’s T20 international player, having featured in 132 matches, scoring 1659 runs and taking 96 wickets in the format. Her all-round value to the side is difficult to overstate, and finding a like-for-like replacement will not be straightforward.
Alice Tector: The Young Allrounder Stepping Up
Alice Tector is the younger sister of Ireland men’s cricketer Harry Tector. She is 18 years old and plays as an all-rounder. Tector is yet to make her T20 international debut but has already represented Ireland in five ODIs since her debut against Sri Lanka in 2024.
Her numbers in domestic cricket point to genuine promise. She scored 109 runs at a strike rate of 118.47 and picked up three wickets at an economy rate of 9.41 from six games in the Cricket Ireland Women’s Super T20 Series. Those performances made a strong enough case for her inclusion at the highest level.
Graeme West, Director of High Performance at Cricket Ireland, said: “Alice herself has had to deal with injuries over the last 12 months, but has shown a great temperament since returning to play in 2026.” The tri-series at home will likely serve as her introduction to T20 international cricket before the World Cup begins.
What Delany’s Absence Means for Ireland
The loss of Delany is significant on multiple levels. She was not just a senior player but a leader who had captained the side across many years. West acknowledged the blow, saying: “We are all devastated for Laura — she’s one of the toughest competitors that has ever played for Ireland Women and we wish her well with her recovery.”
With Delany gone, Ireland will need others to step up in both batting and bowling. The squad is led by Gaby Lewis, with Orla Prendergast as vice-captain. Prendergast also captains the side for the tri-series.
Ireland’s Road to the T20 World Cup
At the World Cup, Ireland have been placed in a tough group alongside hosts England, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Scotland. It is a challenging draw, and results will not come easy.
Ireland open their campaign against Scotland on June 13 in Manchester. A win in that opener would be crucial to building momentum in a competitive group.
The home tri-series against West Indies and Pakistan gives the squad a chance to settle combinations and hand Tector her first T20 international caps before the tournament gets underway. For a young player stepping into a high-pressure squad, that preparation time will matter.
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Ireland Squads
Ireland Squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast (vice-capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Alice Tector, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland Squad for Tri-Series vs Pakistan and West Indies
Orla Prendergast (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Alice Tector, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
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