William Porterfield has been called away by his county

Ireland have lost William Porterfield for Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy opener against Worcestershire.

Worcester's Kabir Ali will miss the game after being ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.

But Irish skipper Porterfield has been forced to withdraw because he is needed by his county Gloucestershire for their clash with Surrey at Bristol.

The 24-year-old is needed as cover for Craig Spearman, who had reported a minor niggle in his hip.

Gary Wilson has joined up with Ireland after being released by Surrey.

If Porterfield plays for Gloucestershire he will be automatically ruled out of the remainder of Ireland's Friends Provident campaign.

Ireland were already without several key players for their opening fixture at Stormont on Sunday.

Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin are on duty with their counties while Trent Johnston, Andre Botha and Alex Cusack are all out injured.

James Hall, Paul Stirling, Reinhardt Strydom and Fintan McAllister come in.

Johnston is suffering from a hamstring injury while Botha and Cusack both have ankle complaints.

"This gives some other players a chance to show what they are capable of," said Irish coach Phil Simmons.

"It's always difficult against the counties but we have been training hard all winter and have valuable match practice under our belts following six weeks in South Africa."

Meanwhile Cricket Ireland has confirmed that former coach Adrian Birrell has been hired in a consultancy role.

The 48-year-old South African was in charge of the senior squad from 2002 to 2007, before stepping down after the World Cup campaign.

"We are delighted to renew our association with Adrian on a formal basis," said Joe Doherty, Chairman of the Cricket Committee.

Birrell commented: "I'm delighted to be doing some consultancy work with Ireland on a regular basis.

"I've come a long way with most of the players I'm dealing with.

"I've been to Under-19 World Cups with them as well as knowing some of them from previous senior squads."

Ireland squad: P Connell (North Down), P Eaglestone (Strabane), J Hall (Waringstown), F McAllister (Malahide), K McCallan (Waringstown), G Wilson (Surrey), J Mooney (North County), K O'Brien (Railway Union), A Poynter (Clontarf), P Stirling (Carrickfergus), R Strydom (YMCA), R West (CSNI), A White (Instonians).

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