Colombo, Sri Lanka – Ireland’s T20 World Cup campaign hangs in the balance as captain Paul Stirling awaits crucial scan results on a knee injury sustained during Wednesday’s clash against Australia. The incident occurred while fielding, when Stirling dived for a catch, jarring his right knee and forcing him to retire hurt without batting in the 183-run chase.
Batting coach Gary Wilson painted a grim picture post-match, revealing Stirling was immediately sent for scans. ‘It doesn’t look great,’ Wilson admitted. ‘We’re waiting for confirmation on the severity.’ The skipper’s availability for upcoming games, including Saturday’s pivotal encounter with Oman, remains uncertain.
Despite collapsing to 115 all out in 16.5 overs for a 67-run defeat, Wilson remains optimistic. ‘We haven’t given up on Super Eights,’ he declared. Highlighting positive showings in prior matches against top teams, he emphasized the dressing room’s talent pool. ‘We’ve faced the group’s strongest sides already. Oman and Zimbabwe are winnable, and we’re gearing up for those must-win battles.’
Stirling’s leadership was missed in the run chase, where he pushed through pain but couldn’t take strike. Wilson’s praise underscored the captain’s commitment: ‘He knew he wasn’t right but wanted to lead the chase for the team.’ With two victories needed to advance, Ireland’s depth and determination will be tested like never before in this high-stakes tournament.