After winning their first title in 2021, Australia has now missed out on getting into the semi-finals three times in a row; which is very surprising given Australia's past success as a cricketing nation. Due to injuries to their star players such as Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood being out before the T20 World Cup 2026 even started and having their regular captain not able to play until after the first two games; hope for a positive result remained strong amongst fans who expected more from a cricketing powerhouse and want to see Australia's dominance continue on a global stage in 2021.

While that was happening down under, Zimbabwe had an amazing time as they confirmed their place in the Super 8; singing and dancing with players and supporters alike. They will be joining India, South Africa, and West Indies in Group 1 of the next stage, which begins next week, but will first finish up their first-round matches versus Sri Lanka on Thursday before trying to build on their incredible momentum and continue their positive run throughout this tournament. There is an awful lot of optimism from supporters that this Zimbabwe can take on teams ranked higher than Zimbabwe and continue to make history by advancing further into this competition over the course of the week.

See Also: Watch: Shoaib Akhtar’s contrasting statements go viral leaving fans in splits after Pakistan's humiliating defeat against India in T20 World Cup 2026

T20 World Cup 2026: Updated Points Table after NZ vs CAN Match 31

Group A Standings

Group B Standings

Group C Standings

Group D Standings

T20 World Cup 2026: Top Performances

Most Runs

Most Wickets

In the absence of their captain, Paul Stirling, who has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, Ireland appointed Lorcan Tucker as the leader of the side, who found himself under pressure during the contest against Oman at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Ireland lost three wickets in five overs and found themselves limping at 64/4 in 7.3 overs. 

Lorcan Tucker, however, didn’t go back into his shell and looked to go after the opposition bowlers. He swept Nadeem Khan for the mid-wicket region for a massive six before clubbing two successive boundaries against Sufyan Mehmood. With a fine boundary on the third ball of the 14th over against Aamir Kaleem, the right-handed batter celebrated his fifty in 35 balls.

See Also: ‘Time to move on…’- Former BCCI selector reveals story of asking MS Dhoni to leave white-ball captaincy

Tucker got full support from the other end, where Gerath Delany nailed a thrilling knock of 56 runs in 30 balls with the help of three boundaries and four sixes. On the 18th over of the innings, Tucker blew away Nadeem. The first ball was put into the stands before smashing two consecutive fours.

Lorcan Tucker ends on 94* in IRE vs OMN T20 WC 2026 clash 

On the fourth delivery of the 18th over, the right-handed batter launched the short ball over the deep square leg region for a massive six before shuffling and clearing the front leg for another gigantic over boundary. With another six over the long-on region, Tucker collected 26 runs of the over and made his way to 86 runs in 47 balls.

Watch the video here: 

Captain leading from the front! 💪

Ireland’s stand-in skipper, Lorcan Tucker, smashes a 35-ball half-century as they push for their first win of the tournament. 👊🔥

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | #IREvOMA | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/gNF6IlphpA pic.twitter.com/V710ShOEs4

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 14, 2026

There was a chance of him crossing the three-figure mark, but George Dockrell had other plans. The latter nailed unbeaten 35 runs in just nine balls with three successive sixes to end the innings as Ireland posted a massive score of 235/5 in their allotted 20 overs, with Tucker ending on 94* with the help of 10 boundaries and four sixes.

Oman lost two early wickets in the chase before their opener, Aamir Kaleem, settled the nerves with a fine knock of 50 runs in 29 balls with the help of five boundaries and two sixes at a strike rate of more than 170.

Brief Scores: Ireland 235/5 (Lorcan Tucker 94*, Gareth Delany 56, Shakeel Ahmed 3/33) vs Oman 108/4 (Amir Kaleem 50, Matthew Humphreys 1/15).

While Ireland are under pressure in Group B of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, they have suffered a big blow. The star Irish player has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. 

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Ireland captain Paul Stirling ruled out, uncapped Sam Topping included 

Ireland captain Paul Stirling suffered a knee injury during their second game of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 against Australia on February 11, and he has been ruled out of the tournament. The 20-year-old uncapped Sam Topping has been added to the squad. 

The 35-year-old Irish skipper Paul Stirling got that injury while taking a stunning catch of the Australian opener Josh Inglis. While Inglis played a shot to George Dockrell, Stirling grabbed the chance brilliantly to dismiss the Aussie opener for 37 off 17 balls. However, during that attempt, Stirling injured his knee, which hit the turf.  

Chasing down the 183-run target, captain Paul Stirling opened the innings as usual, but on the first ball he faced, while he was running, he limped off. Soon he retired hurt and didn't return to bat again, while Ireland were all out for only 115 runs.

Later, he went for a scan, which revealed a knee ligament damage. After the match, Ireland coach Gary Wilson also claimed that Stirling's knee was not looking great. 

Ireland have lost their first two matches of the tournament, as their chance to qualify for the Super Eight seems tougher. After losing by 20 runs in their tournament opener against the hosts Sri Lanka, Ireland suffered a 67-run defeat against Australia in their next match. 

On Saturday (February 14), Ireland will face Oman in their third game of Group B. Their last group stage match is against Zimbabwe, which has been scheduled for February 17.  

Ireland’s campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 may face a big setback. Captain Paul Stirling has gone for scans after hurting his knee during their 67-run loss to Australia in Colombo on Wednesday.

Stirling injured his right knee while taking a catch early in the match. The injury became worse when he came out to bat during Ireland’s run chase. Even though he was in pain, the captain opened the innings. However, he later had to retire hurt. Ireland suffered their second straight defeat in the tournament. The team is now waiting for the scan results to know how serious the injury is.

Ireland batting coach Gary Wilson said the early signs are not very positive. He also explained that Stirling chose to bat because he wanted to help the team, showing his strong commitment.

Also read -Watch: “I only manage around 70 Meters” – Rohit Sharma jokes with former RCB star at T20 World Cup 2026 event

Gary Wilson gives update on Paul Stirling’s injury

Ireland batting coach Gary Wilson said the injury does not look good. He shared that Stirling went for a scan in the evening, and the team is waiting for the results. Wilson said the captain was not fully fit but still tried to bat for the team. He praised Stirling for his effort but said it was not their night.

Ireland are still hopeful despite two losses

Ireland have now lost two matches in a row. They are in a tough spot in the group stage. To reach the Super Eights, they may need to win their next two games against Oman and Zimbabwe.

Even with the pressure, Wilson said the team still believes in itself. He said that against Sri Lanka, Ireland played better cricket for most of the match. But they failed to finish well in the final overs.

Wilson added that there is a lot of talent in the dressing room. He said the coaches trust the players and believe they can bounce back. He also pointed out that Ireland have already faced the two strongest teams in their group.

Ireland will next play against Oman in Colombo on Saturday. The team hopes that Stirling recovers in time for the important match.

Australia produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Ireland by 67 runs in the 14th Group B fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. After compiling a competitive 182 for 6 in their 20 overs, the Australians dismantled Ireland for just 115 in 16.5 overs. The margin of victory reflected their superiority across departments, with impactful contributions from the top order and a ruthless bowling display ensuring the contest never truly slipped from their grasp at any stage.

The innings began with an early setback as Travis Head was run out, but Josh Inglis quickly shifted momentum. The wicketkeeper-batter blasted 37 off 17 deliveries, peppering the boundary with six fours and a six to power Australia through the PowerPlay. Cameron Green maintained the tempo with a brisk 21, helping the side race to 64 inside six overs. Though Ireland managed to pick up wickets in the middle phase, Australia’s scoring rate remained healthy throughout.

See Also: Watch: Star Pakistan batter promises attacking cricket vs India in T20 WC 2026 in front of Wasim Akram

Matt Renshaw anchored the innings with a steady 37, holding the middle order together after a flurry of wickets. Marcus Stoinis then accelerated effectively, striking 45 from 29 balls to push the total beyond the 180 mark. Late cameos from Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett added valuable finishing touches. While Mark Adair claimed two wickets for Ireland, their bowlers struggled to contain Australia’s depth and sustained aggression, particularly during key partnership phases.

Spin and Seam Seal Comprehensive Win

Ireland’s reply faltered almost immediately. Harry Tector departed cheaply, and Ross Adair followed soon after as Nathan Ellis made early inroads. Adam Zampa tightened the squeeze in the middle overs, striking regularly to dismantle Ireland’s batting core. At 43 for 5 within seven overs, the chase was effectively derailed, with the required rate climbing rapidly against disciplined Australian bowling.

George Dockrell offered resistance with a fighting 41, briefly injecting life into the innings, while Mark Adair provided a quick cameo. However, the lower order failed to build sustained partnerships. Ellis finished with outstanding figures of 4 for 12, and Zampa mirrored the impact with four wickets of his own. Ireland were bowled out for 115, handing Australia a convincing 67-run triumph and strengthening their momentum in the tournament.

Top Performers

Nathan Ellis was the standout performer of the match, delivering a match-winning spell that dismantled Ireland’s batting lineup. The seamer claimed 4 wickets for just 12 runs in 3.5 overs, striking at crucial intervals to halt any chance of a recovery. His accuracy, variations, and ability to exploit pressure situations proved decisive, especially during Ireland’s top-order collapse. While Adam Zampa also picked up four wickets, Ellis’ breakthroughs in the powerplay and death overs firmly tilted the game in Australia’s favour and sealed the emphatic 67-run victory.

Key Moments

The game’s turning point came during Ireland’s disastrous start with the bat, losing three wickets inside the first three overs. Nathan Ellis’ early strikes, combined with Matthew Kuhnemann removing Harry Tector, reduced Ireland to 17 for 3 and left them chasing the game. Later, Adam Zampa’s double blows in the middle overs ended any hopes of a comeback just as George Dockrell and Lorcan Tucker were building resistance. Those decisive spells ensured Ireland never came close to threatening Australia’s imposing total of 182.

While the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is less than two weeks away from beginning, Italy created history after beating Ireland in the dramatic third and last game of the T20I series. 

On Monday (January 26), Italy chose to field first after winning the toss at Dubai. While Ireland scored 154 all out in 19.4 overs, Italy chased down the target in 19.3 overs after six wickets, as they ended the game with three consecutive sixes. It was Italy's first international victory against any ICC Full Member (Test-playing nations). However, Ireland already secured the series by winning the first two games by three wickets and 24 runs, and won the series 2-1.

See Also: New entrant Scotland announce their 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Paul Stirling and late batting guided Ireland to 150+

In Ireland's innings, captain and opener Paul Stirling scored a crucial 45 runs off 38 balls with two fours and three sixes, but most of their batters failed to score 20s. Only two middle-order batters managed 20+ scores, who were Ben Calitz (22) and Mark Adair (25). 

Among the Italian bowlers, Crishan Kalugamage (3/28) picked up three wickets, while former South African JJ Smuts (2/18) and Grant Stewart (2/27) got two wickets each. 

Grant Stewart finished match with three consecutive sixes

In reply, Italy were losing wickets at regular intervals, but some crucial knocks from the middle orders helped them to create history just before the T20 World Cup. Wayne Madsen (39), Grant Stewart (33 not out off 19 balls with one four and four sixes), and Gian-Piero Meade (22) managed the 20-run mark in the chase. 

The 46-run unbroken partnership between Grant Stewart and Marcus Campopiano (8 not out) for the seventh wicket successfully finished the game for Italy. In the final over, Italy needed 16 runs, where Grant smashed three successive sixes to Barry McCarthy to stun the cricket world. 

Among the Irish bowlers, Matthew Humphreys (2/23) and Mark Adair (2/23) got two wickets each, but they just failed to save the match. 

Ireland have announced their complete 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, as they are ready to challenge big teams in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. 

The Test-playing nation Ireland are ready for their ninth straight T20 World Cup, who are featuring in the tournament consistently except for the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa. Paul Stirling is ready to lead the Irish team in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Out of 15 names, 12 players were present in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, which the West Indies and the United States hosted in 2024 edition. The remaining three names who didn’t participate in the last edition are Tim Tector, Ben Calitz, and Matthew Humphreys.

Ireland are in Group B in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

India and Sri Lanka are ready to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between February 7 and March 8, 2026, where 20 teams will participate in the tournament. Ireland are in Group B along with the hosts Sri Lanka, who also won the title in 2014, 2021 champions Australia, Zimbabwe, and Oman. The top two teams of the final points table will advance to the Super 8 stage of the tournament. 

Ireland will play all their group stage fixture in Sri Lanka. They will start the tournament with the match against Sri Lanka on February 8, while they will then face Australia, Oman, and Zimbabwe on February 11, 14, and 17, respectively. 

See Also: Oman announce squad for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

In the 2022 edition, Ireland had their best journey with three wins and ended in the second round group stage of that tournament (Super 12). Last edition, they failed to win a single game, as they recorded three losses, which were against India, Pakistan, and Canada, and one no result against the hosts USA. Surely, the Greens are desperate for a better and historic show in the upcoming T20 World Cup. 

Ireland full squad in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Paul Stirling (C), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker (vc), Ben White, Craig Young

Cricket Ireland and the Italian Cricket Federation have jointly announced a three-match bilateral T20 International series set to take place in Dubai in late January 2026. The series will act as crucial preparation for both teams as they gear up for their respective campaigns in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Ireland and Italy have faced each other only once before in a T20I – during the 2023 European Qualifier in Edinburgh, where Ireland secured a tight seven-run win. The sides also met in a non-T20I Twenty20 match in Abu Dhabi back in 2012, which Ireland won by two wickets.

The upcoming fixtures will be historic for Italy, marking their first-ever three-match bilateral series against an ICC Full Member. For Ireland, the games come immediately after the announcement of two additional T20Is against the UAE, forming a full preparatory block in Dubai before the World Cup.

Ireland vs Italy T20I Series Schedule

Following the series, Ireland will also meet the UAE on 29 and 31 January before travelling to Sri Lanka for the World Cup, where they find themselves in Group B alongside Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Oman. Italy, meanwhile, head to India for the tournament and will compete in Group C against England, the West Indies, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Cricket Ireland’s Director of Cricket, Richard Holdsworth, said the series offers ideal match practice in hot conditions after coming out of the Irish winter. Italian federation president Maria Lorena Haz Paz termed the series “historic” and believes it will help raise the profile of Italian cricket as they prepare for their maiden T20 World Cup appearance.

BAN vs IRE 3rd T20I Match Preview:

The final and decisive T20I match between Bangladesh and Ireland is set to take place at Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium. After losing the first match, Bangladesh made a brilliant comeback and brought the series alive by winning the second T20I by four wickets. In this match, Bangladesh registered the victory on the back of captain Liton Das and experienced all-rounder Mehidy Hasan.

The Irish team is playing confidently in this series. Harry Tector and Tim Tector are in good touch with the bat, Mark Adair and Matthew Humphreys have been impressive with the ball. Bangladesh will seek to win the series at home, while Ireland will be confident from their past performances and will put in a lot of effort to win the series.

Recent Performance:

BAN vs IRE 3rd T20I Match Details:

• Series/Tournament: Ireland Tour of Bangladesh 
• Match: BAN vs IRE 3rd T20I
• Date: 2 Dec. 2025
• Match Start Time: 1:30 PM IST
• Stadium/Venue: Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh
• Live Score: cricketwinner.com
• Live Streaming: Fancode.

Head-to-Head Stats:

(Last 10 Matches)

Pitch & Weather Report:

The sky is likely to remain cloudy, but the chances of rain are very low. The temperature is expected to reach around 29°C. Based on previous stats, the average score at this venue ranges between 125 and 143 runs. The pitch offers good assistance to batters and pacers.

Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium Stats: 

The Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium pitch is balanced. The pacer gets a little more help on the pitch at the start of the match, but after some time, the batsmen can easily play their shots. Winning the toss and opting to bat first will be a wise decision on this surface.      

BAN vs IRE Probable Playing 11

Bangladesh (BAN) Probable 11:

1. Tanzid Hasan, 2. Parvez Hossain Emon, 3. Liton Das(WK)(C), 4. Saif Hassan, 5. Towhid Hridoy, 6. Nurul Hasan(WK), 7. Tanzim Hasan, 8. Mahedi Hasan, 9. Nasum Ahmed, 10. Mohammad Saifuddin, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Ireland (IRE) Probable 11:

1. Paul Stirling(C), 2. Tim Tector, 3. Harry Tector, 4. Lorcan Tucker(WK), 5. Benjamin Calitz, 6. George Dockrell, 7. Gareth Delany, 8. Mark Adair, 9. Barry McCarthy, 10. Matthew Humphreys, 11. Joshua Little

BAN vs IRE- Top Picks from BAN

BAN vs IRE- Top Picks from IRE

Cricket Winner Player’s Insight:

Towhid Hridoy (BAN) has been an inform batter for BAN. He stands out as the top performer in the run chart.

Litton Das (BAN), the skipper, showcased his skills in the last T20I and played a crucial role in BAN’s victory. 

Tim H Tector (IRE) is a star opener for Ireland. He had also played a quick innings of 38 runs in 25 balls in the last match.

Harry Tector (IRE) comes to play at number three. Ireland's team batting relies heavily on him.

BAN vs IRE Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:

BAN vs IRE Fantasy Team Suggestion:  

BAN vs IRE Dream11 Prediction Expert Advice 

BAN vs IRE Probable Winners:

BAN is expected to win this match. Bangladesh's confidence was boosted by winning the second T20I match. They have completely dominated Ireland in the head-to-head stats. BAN also has the benefit of playing on its home ground.

BAN vs IRE 3rd T20I FAQ

Who is likely to win the BAN vs IRE match today?

Bangladesh (BAN) is expected to win this match.

Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?    

Bangladesh

Who are the top fantasy picks for the BAN vs IRE Dream11 team?

Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mahedi Hasan, Mark Adair, Tim H Tector and H Tector

What is the pitch report for this match?

The surface is balanced, and we can expect an average score range between 150 and 170 runs.

After the tough Test series, finally, Ireland had a big smile in the ongoing Bangladesh tour, as they comfortably won the first game of the three-match T20I series to take a crucial 1-0 lead in the series. 

While Bangladesh sent the visitors to bat first, Ireland scored 181/4 in 20 overs. In reply, Bangladesh's top-order batters fell early, as they quickly fell out of the game. Ultimately, Bangladesh managed to score 142/9 in 20 overs, as Ireland won by 39 runs, which was their third T20I victory against Bangladesh, but successfully T20I defending against Bangladesh. 

See Also: Sri Lanka reach T20I tri-series Final after beating Pakistan in thrilling final over

Harry Tector's 69 not out played huge role in Ireland innings

Openers Paul Stirling and Tim Tector provided a solid start with a 40-run partnership for the first wicket. Skipper Stirling scored 21 off 18 balls (four fours), while Tim scored 32 off 19 balls with six fours. Harry Tector controlled the innings brilliantly by scoring 69 not out off 45 balls with one four and five sixes. Also, Lorcan Tucker (18), Curtis Campher (24), and George Dockrell (12 not out) had some useful contributions. 

Among the Bangladesh bowlers, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib (2/41) got two wickets, Rishad Hossain (1/34) and Shoriful Islam (1/42) had one wicket each. 

Only three Bangladesh batters reach double-digit scores

In reply, Bangladesh were 18/4, while all the top four batters failed to reach double-digit scores. Apart from the lone fighter Towhid Hridoy, who scored 83 not out off 50 balls with nine fours and three sixes, Jaker Ali (20) and Shoriful Islam (12) managed to reach the double-digit scores, as Hridoy had no support. 

Irish left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant bowling figures of 4-0-13-4. Also, Barry McCarthy (3/23) and Mark Adair (2/20) got three and two wickets, respectively.