Will Gaby Lewis Lead Ireland Women to Victory Against Pakistan in T20Is?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Gaby Lewis leads Ireland Women's squad.
- Series against Pakistan starts on August 6.
- Significant for qualifying for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
- Orla Prendergast appointed vice-captain.
- Historical dominance of Pakistan in T20Is noted.
Dublin, Aug 1 (NationPress) Gaby Lewis is set to captain the 14-member Ireland Women's team for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan at home in Clontarf, just outside Dublin.
The 24-year-old Gaby, who made her international debut in July 2014 at the young age of 13, became the youngest player to take on the role of captain for the Ireland Women's team in international cricket back in June 2022, at just 21 years old.
Orla Prendergast has been appointed as vice-captain. Meanwhile, off-spinner Freya Sargent makes her return to the squad after recovering from an injury, while fellow off-spinner Lara McBride retains her position following an impressive performance during her debut series against Zimbabwe.
This series is crucial for Ireland as they gear up for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, with hopes of securing a spot in next year’s main event.
Historically, Pakistan has had the upper hand in T20Is, winning 15 out of their 19 encounters. Nonetheless, Ireland celebrated a hard-fought victory the last time these two teams faced each other in a bilateral T20I series, clinching a 2-1 win in 2022.
Commenting on the upcoming matches against Pakistan following their successful series against Zimbabwe, National Women’s Selector Ciara O’Brien stated, “After a strong 5-0 series victory against Zimbabwe Women across formats under new head coach Lloyd Tennant, it’s fantastic to transition so swiftly into what will be a significantly more challenging task against Pakistan Women in Clontarf for this T20I series.”
“As we prepare for the forthcoming matches, our focus is on maintaining the momentum leading into the ICC Women’s T20I World Cup Europe Qualifier in the Netherlands in a few weeks, so we’re eager to see this latest enthusiasm carried forward by the squad at Clontarf.
The series kicks off on August 6, with the second match on August 8 and the final T20I on August 10.
Ireland squad: Gaby Lewis (captain), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Laura Delany, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Stokell.