DUBLIN – A foot injury has forced Under-19s captain Amy Hunter to pull out of the 2025 ICC Under-19s Women’s T20 World Cup – Merrion’s Niamh MacNulty has been named the new captain, while clubmate Ally Boucher joins the playing squad as replacement.
The 16-team event is being held for only the second time – the first-ever edition was held in 2023 in South Africa. At that event, the unlucky Hunter sustained an injury that saw her miss all but one match of the tournament. She is the second player forced to withdraw from the squad through injury after Alice Tector pulled out.
MacNulty, 18, was part of the last Under-19s World Cup squad and had an excellent Evoke Super 20 Trophy competition in 2024, taking seven wickets at 14.71. She was captain of the Women’s All-Ireland T20 Cup-winning Merrion side in 2023.
The Ireland Under-19s Women’s squad is:
- Niamh MacNulty (Merrion) captain, Ally Boucher (Merrion), Abbi Harrison (Waringstown), Jennifer Jackson (Eglinton), Rebecca Lowe (Lisburn), Aimee Maguire (The Hills), Lara McBride (The Hills), Kia McCartney (Coleraine), Ellie McGee (Rush), Julie McNally (Clontarf), Lucy Neely (Fox Lodge), Freya Sargent (Clontarf) vice-captain, Millie Spence (Bready), Annabel Squires (Merrion), Alice Walsh (Clontarf).
Travelling reserve player: Genevieve Morrissey (Clontarf)
Non-travelling reserve: Síbha Bhoja (Merrion)
Coaching and support staff: Glenn Querl (Head Coach), James Cameron-Dow (Assistant Coach), Nigel Jones (Team Manager), Stuart Thompson (Strength & Conditioning), Julia Webster (Physiotherapist), Alison White (Team Doctor).
The Irish squad will travel to Dubai for a preparation camp today where they will play friendly fixtures against UAE and Scotland, before arriving in Malaysia on 11 January. They will play two official warm-up matches against South Africa U19s Women and Malaysia U19s Women prior to competitive action (additional information on the tournament with full playing schedule and squads).
UNDER-19s WORLD CUP FIXTURES (Group B)
- 18 January 2025: Ireland U19s Women v England U19s Women (10.30am) – Johor Cricket Academy Ground
- 20 January 2025: Ireland U19s Women v USA U19s Women (10.30am) – Johor Cricket Academy Ground
- 22 January 2025: Ireland U19s Women v Pakistan U19s Women (10.30am) – Johor Cricket Academy Ground
*time local to ground