Cricket Ireland reject venue shift as BCB approach ICC over group swap
Cricket Ireland confirmed their T20 World Cup 2026 matches will stay in Sri Lanka after the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s group swap proposal.
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Cricket Ireland has made it clear that their T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage matches will not be moved from Sri Lanka. This comes after reports from Bangladesh suggested a possible group swap proposal was discussed. Ireland said they have received clear confirmation from the ICC. Their schedule will remain unchanged.
An official from Cricket Ireland confirmed the position in a statement to Cricbuzz. “We've received definitive assurances that we won't move from the original schedule. We're definitely playing the Group Stage in Sri Lanka,” the official said. This assurance puts an end to speculation around Ireland’s fixtures. The ICC has stood firm on the original plan.
Ireland are placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup 2026. The group includes co-hosts Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, and Oman. All Group B matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka. The games will be played across Kandy and Colombo.
Bangladesh Push for Group Change Over India Travel
Bangladesh, who are in Group C, are scheduled to play their group matches in India. Their group includes West Indies, England, Nepal, and Italy. The matches are set to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai. However, Bangladesh are unwilling to travel to India due to security concerns.
See Also: ICC facilitates India visas for Pakistan-origin players ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
During a meeting with the ICC held at Dhaka on Saturday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) proposed a possible solution. They stated swapping groups with Ireland to avoid traveling to India. The meeting included senior ICC officials and top BCB members. The idea was discussed as a way to reduce logistical challenges.
“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,” the BCB said in a statement. Despite this, a Cricbuzz report stated that the ICC did not support the proposal. As things stand, the original group structure and venues remain unchanged.
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Gopi Marisetty
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