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Stirling opportunity

13 February 2008

Paul Stirling has been selected

Ireland have named teenage batsman Paul Stirling in their 15-man party for the tour of UAE and Bangladesh.

The 17-year-old opener was handed his chance after scoring 72 for Ireland Under-19s in their defeat to New Zealand on Tuesday.

Left-arm bowlers Phil Eaglestone and Reinhardt Strydom are the other new faces in a squad captained once again by Trent Johnston.

Ireland will play the UAE in Sharjah from March 6-9, and hope to gain extra practice against Essex, who will be in the region participating in a tournament, before leaving for the subcontinent on March 15.

They will play three one-day internationals against the Tigers on March 18, 20 and 22.

Ireland squad: Trent Johnston, Andre Botha, Alex Cusack, Philip Eaglestone, Thinus Fourie, Gary Kidd, Kyle McCallan, Eoin Morgan, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Reinhardt Strydom, Greg Thompson.