Ireland's Paul Stirling Becomes Most Capped Player in T20I Cricket History During UAE Series Opener

UAE. The Ireland cricket team is currently on a tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As part of this tour, Ireland and the UAE are playing a two-match T20 International series. The first match of the series began on Thursday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

In the first match, Ireland's captain Paul Stirling won the toss and elected to bat first. Stirling was dismissed for eight runs off three balls. However, upon taking the field, he created history. Stirling has become the player with the most T20 International matches played.

This match is the 160th T20 International game of Stirling's career. Previously, former Indian captain Rohit Sharma had played 159 T20 International matches. Rohit Sharma retired from this format after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. 

Stirling made his T20 International debut on June 15, 2009, against Pakistan. In the 160 matches he has played so far, he has scored 3,874 runs in 157 innings at an average of 26.53 and a strike rate of over 130. During this time, he has hit 24 half-centuries and one century. His highest individual score is an unbeaten 115 runs.

Similarly, Stirling has also contributed with the ball, taking 20 wickets in 42 innings.