Ireland Confirms No Venue Shift as Bangladesh Urges ICC to Swap T20 World Cup Groups: Report

The ongoing uncertainty around Bangladesh's participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 took a new turn after Cricket Ireland confirmed that their fixtures will not be shifted out of Sri Lanka, despite Bangladesh's request for a group-stage swap.

Hours after reports emerged that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking an exchange of groups with Ireland, a Cricbuzz report quoted Cricket Ireland officials reaffirming their scheduled venue.

"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 (CI) official told Cricbuzz, signalling the ICC's firm stance on retaining the pre-approved

itinerary.

For the 2026 T20 World Cup, Ireland have been placed in Group B alongside Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Oman. They are slated to play all four of their league matches in Sri Lanka-three in Colombo followed by one in Pallekele. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are part of Group C with England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy, and are scheduled to play three matches in Kolkata and another in Mumbai.

Bangladesh, however, have expressed reluctance to travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns. On Saturday, the BCB formally requested the ICC to swap groups with Ireland so the team could play its fixtures in Sri Lanka instead.

In response to Bangladesh's concerns, a two-member ICC delegation visited Dhaka for discussions. The team included Gaurav Saxena, General Manager - Events and Corporate Communications, who joined virtually after facing visa delays, and Andrew Ephgrave, General Manager of the Integrity Unit, who attended the meeting in person.

Following the talks, the BCB issued a statement summarizing the discussions. "The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today held a meeting with representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss matters relating to Bangladesh's participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026," the body said.

Reiterating its stance, the BCB added: "During the discussions, 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 ICC is yet to issue an official decision on Bangladesh's appeal.