PRETORIA CAPITALS' PAUL STIRLING NAMED PERMANENT IRELAND WHITE-BALL CAPTAIN

Not long after being signed by Pretoria Capitals, via the Betway SA20 Season 2 Player Auction, Paul Stirling has been announced as Ireland Men’s permanent white-ball captain effective immediately.

Stirling, 33, has led his country 22 times across formats (six ODIs, 16 T20Is). His 376 appearances for Ireland place him 13 short of Kevin O’Brien’s record number of caps. He'll look to soon claim that record, to add to the one he already holds as Ireland Men’s highest-ever run-scorer (currently 11 756 runs across all formats).

The hard-hitting top-order batter (and part-time off-spinner) was appointed the interim white-ball captain in July 2023, after Andrew Balbirnie stepped down from that role.

Speaking of his permanent appointment, Stirling told cricketireland.ie: "Playing for Ireland has always been a source of pride for me and to be confirmed the permanent white-ball captain is a recognition I don’t take for granted. I have very much enjoyed working with Heinrich [Malan] and the coaching staff over the last few months as interim skipper, but we all know that we have potentially three world cup campaigns over the next four years and the work starts now.

“I said recently that ODI cricket was my favourite format, and to watch on as the 50-over World Cup has been underway is actually been a great motivator for me to ensure we are there at the next event in 2027. I know this desire is a common feeling throughout the squad, and so we’ll look to harness this drive into the next series scheduled for December.

“We also recognise that there is only eight months now to the next T20 World Cup, so the clock has well-and-truly started on our preparations.”

During Betway SA20 Season 1, Stirling was signed by Paarl Royals as a late replacement for Obed McCoy of the West Indies. His two appearances [yielding 40 runs at a strike rate of 166.66] in the South Africa's premier T20 league happened to come against his new team, the Capitals.