Stirling captained Ireland at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Paul Stirling says "it feels like the right time to move into a new chapter" after stepping down as Ireland T20 captain. The 35-year-old batter was appointed white-ball skipper in 2023 and led Ireland at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka earlier this year, although his tournament was cut short by injury.

Cricket Ireland say Stirling "will remain a valued member of the T20 squad" and will also continue as captain of the one-day international squad. Stirling - who earlier this year became the first Irish player to reach 10,000 international runs - said he made the decision following "careful thought and reflection".

"It has been a tremendous honour to lead Ireland in this format and something I have been incredibly proud to do," he said. "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. I would like to thank my team-mates, 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 added that he remains "fully committed" to Ireland despite ending his captaincy. "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 said. "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."

"Representing Ireland remains the greatest privilege of my career and I am as motivated as ever to help the team continue to grow and achieve success in the years ahead."

Cricket Ireland director of high performance Graeme West praised Stirling as an "outstanding leader". "He will continue to captain the ODI squad with the initial goal to successfully navigate qualification and lead the team in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup next October-November," added West. "With qualification secured for the T20 World Cup in 2028, Paul's decision to stand down as T20 captain provides the opportunity for the new captain to begin implementing their style and methodology, starting with the India series in June."

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