Ireland name T20 squad to face South Africa and Afghanistan

Ireland are due to play two T20Is against South Africa in Bristol before hosting Afghanistan in Stormont later in August

Ireland have named a 14-strong squad to face South Africa and Afghanistan in August.

Andrew Balbirnie's side are scheduled to play two T20Is against South Africa in Bristol on August 3 and August 5 before hosting a five-match series against Afghanistan in Stormont between August 9-17.

This squad, which is unchanged from the group which lost 3-0 against New Zealand earlier in July, will contest the first five T20s of the seven-match block.

Josh Little was among the players to impress against the Black Caps, collecting a series leading eight wickets, while Mark Adair was the second-highest run-scorer, contributing 89 runs at a strike rate of 156.14.

^{Josh Little impressed for Ireland against New Zealand [Idranil Mukherjee/Getty Images]}

"We are now getting down to the final stages of our preparations as we build towards the men's T20 World Cup in October. The squad has faced two high-quality opponents in recent weeks, in India and New Zealand, and have stern tests ahead against South Africa and Afghanistan," said Andrew White, chair of men's selectors.

"We believe, while the results have not gone our way, the brand of cricket that [head coach] Heinrich Malan is instilling in the squad is showing positive signs and the players are beginning to equip themselves well as they build towards the World Cup in Australia.

"We have, however, sought to give ourselves a level of selection flexibility later in the Afghan series, and will announce a squad for the final two T20Is of that series in due course."

Ireland are expected to announce a provisional squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup in late August, with the final squad confirmed in early September.

Ireland squad: Andrew Balbirnie (C), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young

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