Ireland name Shannon in World Cup Qualifier squad

Dublin: Batsman James Shannon has returned to a 15-man Ireland squad for the World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe in February and March.

The Northern Knights right-hander, 27, is rewarded for a prolific 2017 in inter-provincial and club cricket.

Shannon's last full international appearance came in a Twenty20 international against Hong Kong in September 2016.

Ireland are chasing a fourth consecutive qualification success and their five-team group includes top seeds West Indies.

The top three in each of the two groups progress to a Super Six competition, from which two will go through to the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.

An experienced Ireland squad boasts 1,925 caps between the 15 players, with no fewer than eight of them winning more than 100 caps.

Stuart Poynter and Jacob Mulder are omitted from the squad that won the one-day international tri-series in Dubai last week.

Poynter is unavailable as his partner is expecting their first child in March.

Ireland World Cup Qualifier squad:

• William Porterfield (Formby/Warriors, capt)
• Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke/Lightning)
• Peter Chase (Malahide/Lightning)
• George Dockrell (Leinster/Lightning)
• Ed Joyce (Merrion/Lightning)
• Andrew McBrine (Donemana/Warriors)
• Barry McCarthy (Durham)
• Tim Murtagh (Middlesex)
• Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union/Lightning)
• Niall O'Brien (Nantwich/Warriors, wk)
• Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire)
• James Shannon (Instonians/Knights)
• Simi Singh (YMCA/Lightning)
• Paul Stirling (Middlesex)
• Gary Wilson (Derbyshire, wk).