Cricket Ireland has simply rejected any possibility of shifting its T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures out of Sri Lanka, effectively shutting down the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) proposal to swap groups as a way out of the ongoing venue crisis. An Irish board official confirmed that the ICC has given them “definitive assurances” that their schedule will remain untouched.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has seen enough drama already. First, it was whether India should keep Pakistan in the same group. Now, in the last few weeks, it has become only about Bangladesh’s desire to play in India. They are doing everything possible to fall into a solution but everything is ending on a stalemate.
“We’ve received definitive assurances that we won’t move from the original schedule. We’re definitely playing the Group Stage in Sri Lanka,” a Cricket Ireland representative told Cricbuzz.
The statement comes hours after reports from Dhaka revealed that the BCB had suggested exchanging places with Ireland to avoid travelling to India. Bangladesh are currently placed in Group C alongside West Indies, England, Nepal and Italy, with all their matches scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai. Ireland, meanwhile, are in Group B with Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe and Oman and are set to play entirely in Colombo.
Bangladesh’s proposal gets rejected
During Saturday’s meeting between the ICC delegation and Bangladeshi officials, the BCB floated the idea of minimal logistical disruption by moving Bangladesh to Ireland’s group. The board argued that such a switch would allow them to honour participation without compromising their government’s stance on not travelling to India.
“The BCB reiterated its formal request to the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. The Board also shared the Bangladesh Government’s views and concerns on safety and security of the team, Bangladeshi fans, media, and other stakeholders. The discussions were conducted in a constructive, cordial, and professional manner, with all parties engaging openly on the relevant issues. Among other points, the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed,” BCB said in a statement.
However, neither the ICC nor Cricket Ireland appear convinced. The ICC delegation, led in person by Andrew Ephgrave and joined virtually by Gaurav Saxena after his visa was delayed, held extensive talks with BCB president Aminul Islam and senior Bangladesh government representatives. However, it appears no breakthrough was achieved, as BCB seems adamant on their stance.
Group B: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
| Team | ICC Ranking |
|---|---|
| Australia | 2nd |
| Oman | 20th |
| IRELAND | 11th |
| Zimbabwe | 12th |
| Sri Lanka | 8th |
Group C: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
| Team | ICC Ranking |
|---|---|
| BANGLADESH | 9th |
| Italy | 28th |
| Nepal | 17th |
| West Indies | 6th |
| England | 3rd |
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule
| Date | Teams | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Feb 7, 2026 | West Indies vs Bangladesh | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 3:00 PM |
| Mon, Feb 9, 2026 | Bangladesh vs Italy | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 11:00 AM |
| Sat, Feb 14, 2026 | England vs Bangladesh | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 3:00 PM |
| Tue, Feb 17, 2026 | Bangladesh vs Nepal | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:00 PM |
