Ireland: The International Cricket Council has made it clear that Ireland’s fixtures for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will remain in Sri Lanka, dismissing any possibility of altering the existing group-stage schedule despite recent representations from Bangladesh.
Cricket Ireland confirmed on Sunday that it had received firm communication from the global governing body assuring that no changes would be made to Ireland’s match locations. The clarification came amid reports suggesting that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had proposed a group exchange that would have seen Ireland move out of Sri Lanka to accommodate Bangladesh. (T20 World Cup 2026)
An official from Cricket Ireland said the ICC had provided clear guarantees that the original plan would be honoured, under which Ireland will play all its Group B matches in Sri Lanka. The Irish side is grouped with Australia, hosts Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Oman, with three matches slated for Colombo and one scheduled in Pallekele.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, has been drawn in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy. Under the published itinerary, Bangladesh are due to play three games in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. The BCB has raised reservations about touring India for the tournament, pointing to security-related concerns.
According to sources, the BCB formally approached the ICC seeking a group reshuffle that would allow Bangladesh to play its group fixtures in Sri Lanka instead. The proposal would have required Ireland to relocate, a move that has now been effectively ruled out.
To address the issue, a two-member ICC delegation visited Dhaka to hold discussions with the Bangladesh board. The team included Andrew Ephgrave, the ICC’s General Manager of the Integrity Unit, who attended the meeting in person, and Gaurav Saxena, General Manager for Events and Corporate Communications, who participated virtually after being unable to secure a visa in time.
Following the meeting, the BCB said it had reiterated its request for a venue change and conveyed concerns expressed by the Bangladesh government regarding the safety of players, officials, supporters and media personnel during the tournament in India.
Despite the ongoing dialogue, the ICC’s position appears unchanged, with Ireland’s Sri Lanka-based schedule remaining locked in and the broader tournament plan continuing as announced.
