Amid the growing logistical and safety concerns surrounding the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Cricket Ireland has taken a definitive stance: the team will not travel to India for its scheduled matches. However, the board has received assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the location of their fixtures in Sri Lanka will remain unchanged.
A senior Cricket Ireland official told Cricbuzz, “We have received a clear confirmation that the schedule will not be altered. We will definitely play our group-stage matches in Sri Lanka.”
Ireland is drawn in Group C of the tournament, alongside co-host Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, and Oman. In contrast, Bangladesh finds itself in Group B, facing West Indies, England, Nepal, and Italy. Bangladesh’s group matches are scheduled to take place in Kolkata and Mumbai, India.
Due to current concerns, Bangladesh is reportedly hesitant to travel to India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has therefore proposed a potential group swap to the ICC to ease logistical pressures. A meeting was held on Saturday in Dhaka between BCB officials and ICC representatives to discuss the matter.
The BCB stated, “Alongside other matters, discussions took place on the possibility of moving Bangladesh to another group with minimal logistical changes to address the challenges.”
Despite these discussions, neither the ICC nor Cricket Ireland has indicated any changes to Ireland’s position. It appears increasingly unlikely that Ireland will reconsider its decision.
The ICC delegation included Gaurav Saxena and Andrew Efgreave. Saxena was unable to travel to Dhaka due to visa issues and participated in the meeting online, while Efgreave attended in person. Representing the BCB were President Md Aminul Islam, Vice-President Md Shakhawat Hossain, Faruq Ahmed, Chairman of the Cricket Operations Committee Nazmul Abedin, and CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury.
After the discussions, the BCB confirmed that all parties agreed to continue constructive dialogue on the matter. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will proceed as planned across India and Sri Lanka, beginning on 7 February and concluding on 8 March 2026.
T20 World Cup Groups and Venues:
| Group | Teams | Scheduled Venues |
|---|---|---|
| B | Bangladesh, West Indies, England, Nepal, Italy | Kolkata, Mumbai |
| C | Ireland, Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Oman | Sri Lanka |
The ICC has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the tournament schedule, ensuring that the competition remains fair while accommodating teams’ safety concerns.