Janice R. Andrews
Ireland captain Paul Stirling is hopeful his team can finally secure a maiden T20 victory over South Africa in their upcoming match on Friday in Abu Dhabi. The Irish side has never beaten South Africa in five previous encounters, but Stirling is confident they have a real shot this time.
“Winning would be huge—South Africa is a top team, but in T20 cricket, anything can happen,” said Stirling. “We’re ready to give it our best.”
The teams will meet again on Sunday for the second match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. While South Africa is the favorite, fielding a young squad, Stirling remains optimistic. “They’re a strong team with a powerful middle order, but we believe in our talent.”
Both Ireland and South Africa are starting fresh cycles ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Stirling determined to expand Ireland’s player pool by introducing new faces over the next year.
“We have a talented group, and we want to get them ready for the next World Cup,” he added.
South Africa, fresh off a loss in their ODI series against Afghanistan, is also eager to bounce back. Their captain, Aiden Markram, acknowledged the Irish team’s potential to pull off upsets.
“They have match-winners capable of taking down top teams,” said Markram.
With both sides looking to build momentum, the upcoming matches could be thrilling as Ireland chases a historic win.
