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Cricket Ireland has officially unveiled its central contract list for the upcoming season, confirming a total of 48 players, including 17 men and 11 women on full-time contracts. Among the key additions are Matthew Humphreys and Sarah Forbes, both of whom have been promoted to full-time status.
Ireland
Humphreys earned his upgrade following an impressive performance in Ireland’s historic Test match against Zimbabwe, having previously held a retainer contract. Meanwhile, Forbes' standout contributions during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier campaign secured her a full-time spot.
This year’s list was announced just ahead of two major series—the women’s T20Is against Zimbabwe and the men’s T20Is against England.
Ireland’s contracting system has gradually evolved, with contracts increasingly tailored to meet individual player needs. Players not on central contracts may still be offered casual contracts at various points during the year.
Graeme West, Cricket Ireland’s High Performance Director, highlighted that the central contracts serve to reward the top-performing male and female cricketers, while also offering them structured access to professional support such as coaching, healthcare, and lifestyle services. He emphasized that this investment not only boosts the sport’s competitiveness on the global stage but also helps inspire the next generation of Irish cricketers.
