Paul Stirling, reflecting on Ireland's performance in the T20 World Cup, acknowledged the difficulties they faced but refrained from making excuses. He mentioned that adverse weather conditions had posed significant challenges, particularly during the Florida, leg where rain hampered their training. Stirling noted that being from Ireland, they were accustomed to such disruptions and had to adapt to the challenges of international cricket.
He also highlighted the strong performances of associate nations like the USA and Canada in their group, accentuating that every game for these teams feels like a World Cup final as they strive to rise through the ranks. Stirling observed that there is not much difference in quality among teams ranked between eighth and twentieth in the world, making every match highly competitive.
Discussing Ireland's aggressive approach in T20 cricket, Stirling remarked that finding the right strategy on varying pitches is a delicate balance. He reflected that while aggressive tactics work better on flatter pitches, they had tempered their approach against Canada, which did not yield positive results. Stirling expressed a preference for a fighting approach, as shown in their match against Pakistan, rather than playing too cautiously, which could hinder their performance.
Ireland's campaign concluded with a narrow loss to Pakistan in a low-scoring match in Lauderhill. Ireland posted 106-9 in their 20 overs, and Pakistan struggled to chase down the target, eventually winning with seven balls to spare at 111-7. Stirling expressed satisfaction with their ability to stay in the game and fight back despite the circumstances, particularly noting their efforts to claw back into contention during both innings.
Stirling acknowledged the difficulty of finding motivation for a match with no stakes, as both team's hopes of advancing had already been extinguished. However, he stressed the importance of putting on a good show for their supporters, both those who travelled from Ireland and those watching on television. Stirling noted that these motivations help the team stay focused and give their best, even in matches that may seem inconsequential. He added that winning the toss and batting first on a tricky wicket could have been beneficial but recognised that they were not quite game-ready, which likely cost them in the end.