Ireland board has handed seven members professional contracts, a significant first for the sport in this country.
Apart from seven players, nine cricketers were handed part-time contracts/ educational contracts. This will help the players to continue their studies while playing for the country.
Four other players are given the non-retainer contracts. This provides the players with the match fees, medical insurance and other benefits available for fully contracted players.
International (full-time) contracts: Laura Delany, Shauna Kavanagh, Sophie MacMahon, Cara Murray, Celeste Raack, Eimear Richardson (TBC), Mary Waldron.
Education (part-time) contracts: Ava Canning, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Gaby Lewis, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell.
Non-retainer contracts: Rachel Delaney, Sarah Forbes, Hannah Little, Kate McEvoy.
“The work behind-the-scenes to get to this point has – in reality – been three years in the making,” Warren Deutrom, Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, said.
“Coming off the back of the team’s performance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2018, we – as an organisation – committed ourselves to a journey to professionalise women’s cricket. It was not only a good thing to do, it was the right thing to do.
“Women’s cricket’s time has come around the world – we’ve seen the incredible growth and professionalisation of the women’s game across several major nations like Australia, England and India and the strong focus on female cricket in the new ICC strategy.
“It’s now Ireland’s turn.”
Apart from the professional contracts, the head coach Ed Joyce has agreed on a three-year extension to his contract.
The Board will be investing a total of €1.5m in women’s cricket which is almost three times the amount the Board had invested in 2019.
Ireland will have a busy summer as they take on South Africa and also, they will play a tri-series against Pakistan and Australia.
Ireland v South Africa fixtures
3 June 2022: Ireland Women v South Africa Women – 1stT20I (Pembroke)
6 June 2022: Ireland Women v South Africa Women – 2ndT20I (Pembroke)
8 June 2022: Ireland Women v South Africa Women – 3rdT20I (Pembroke)
11 June 2022: Ireland Women v South Africa Women – 1stODI (Clontarf)
14 June 2022: Ireland Women v South Africa Women – 1stODI (Clontarf)
17 June 2022: Ireland Women v South Africa Women – 1stODI (Clontarf)
Tri-series fixtures with Australia and Pakistan
16 July 2022: Australia Women v Pakistan Women – T20I (Bready)
17 July 2022: Ireland Women v Australia Women – T20I (Bready)
19 July 2022: Ireland Women v Pakistan Women – T20I (Bready)
21 July 2022: Ireland Women v Australia Women – T20I (Bready)
23 July 2022: Pakistan Women v Australia Women – T20I (Bready)
24 July 2022: Ireland Women v Pakistan Women – T20I (Bready)
