Ireland's T20 World Cup campaign has been significantly impacted by the injury of their captain, Paul Stirling, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to a knee ligament injury. Stirling sustained the injury during a match against Australia on February 11, 2026, while attempting a catch, which forced him to leave the field. Despite trying to bat later in the game, his knee buckled, and he was forced to retire hurt after facing just one ball. Ireland's coach, Gary Wilson, noted that Stirling's knee 'doesn't look great' and confirmed that a scan revealed ligament damage. As a result, Stirling will return home for rest and rehabilitation, as reported by ESPN and Cricket Ireland.