Paul Stirling has stepped down as Ireland’s T20I captain, putting an end to a notable chapter in the team’s white-ball leadership. Stirling’s resignation comes as Ireland begins planning for the Men's T20 World Cup 2028. According to the board, the move is aimed at allowing fresh leadership to come up while giving the experienced opener the freedom to focus fully on his performance as a player. Despite stepping down from the T20I captaincy, Stirling will continue to play a vital role in Ireland’s setup. Moreover, he remains the captain of the ODI side.

"After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as captain of Ireland’s T20 side. It has been a tremendous honour to lead Ireland in this format and something I have been incredibly proud to do. Captaining your country is a privilege that carries great responsibility, and I’m very grateful for the trust and support I have received during my time in the role," Stirling said in a statement.

“I would like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, the wider support staff, and everyone involved with Cricket Ireland for the backing they have shown me throughout. I’m also hugely appreciative of the support from fans who continue to follow and champion this team wherever we play."

“While I will be stepping away from the T20 captaincy, I remain fully committed to the Ireland team and will continue in my role as ODI captain. I still have a huge amount of ambition as a player and feel this decision will allow me to fully focus on being the best version of myself and making the strongest possible contribution on the field.

"This feels like the right time for the team to move into a new chapter, and I wish whoever takes on the T20 captaincy every success. They will have my full support, and I look forward to working alongside them as we continue to build and push for success on the international stage. Representing Ireland remains the greatest privilege of my career, and I am as motivated as ever to help the team continue to grow and achieve success in the years ahead."

Stirling had been leading the T20I side full-time since 2023 after taking over from Andrew Balbirnie. Recently, during the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Stirling suffered a knee ligament injury that ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament. He only played two games before the injury cut short his campaign.