Paul Stirling has stepped down as Ireland’s T20I captain, the 35-year-old announced on Thursday through a release by Cricket Ireland, signalling the start of a new planning cycle as the team builds towards the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028.
The 35-year-old, who took over as white-ball captain in 2023, led Ireland through the recently concluded ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. While he will continue to be part of the T20I setup, Stirling will now focus on his role as ODI captain, with Ireland moving towards a format-specific leadership structure.
Under the new arrangement, Andrew Balbirnie will continue as Test captain, Stirling will lead the ODI side, and a new T20I captain is yet to be announced.
Announcing his decision, Stirling reflected on his time in charge, “After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as captain of Ireland’s T20 side.
It has been a tremendous honour to lead Ireland in this format and something I have been incredibly proud to do. Captaining your country is a privilege that carries great responsibility, and I’m very grateful for the trust and support I have received during my time in the role.”
Ireland's leading T20I run scorer also acknowledged the support system around him, “I would like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, the wider support staff, and everyone involved with Cricket Ireland for the backing they have shown me throughout. I’m also hugely appreciative of the support from fans who continue to follow and champion this team wherever we play.”
Stirling lead Ireland in 48 T20Is between 2019 to 2026.
The opener emphasised that the decision allows him to refocus on his individual contributions, “While I will be stepping away from the T20 captaincy, I remain fully committed to the Ireland team and will continue in my role as ODI captain. I still have a huge amount of ambition as a player and feel this decision will allow me to fully focus on being the best version of myself and making the strongest possible contribution on the field.”
He also framed the move as part of a broader transition, “This feels like the right time for the team to move into a new chapter, and I wish whoever takes on the T20 captaincy every success. They will have my full support, and I look forward to working alongside them as we continue to build and push for success on the international stage.”
As Ireland recalibrates its leadership across formats, Stirling’s exit from the T20 captaincy marks both the end of a short but significant stint and the beginning of a more specialised approach, one aimed at long-term stability and growth in the lead-up to 2028.
