Cricket Ireland has made its position crystal clear amid the ongoing complications surrounding the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup: the team will not travel to India for the tournament. However, the board has received formal assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC) that its scheduled matches will not be relocated from Sri Lanka.
A senior Cricket Ireland official told CricBuzz, “We have received unequivocal confirmation that the schedule will remain unchanged. Our group-stage matches will be played in Sri Lanka as planned.”
Ireland has been drawn in Group C of the T20 World Cup, alongside co-host Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, and Oman.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has been placed in Group B, which also includes West Indies, England, Nepal, and Italy. The fixtures for Group B are scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai.
However, given the current circumstances, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has expressed reluctance to send its team to India. Consequently, the BCB proposed a group swap to the ICC, seeking to minimise logistical challenges. A meeting between the ICC and BCB was held in Dhaka on Saturday to discuss this matter.
A BCB statement noted, “Among other considerations, discussions were held on the possibility of placing Bangladesh in a different group to address logistical concerns with minimal disruption.”
Despite these efforts, neither the ICC nor Cricket Ireland have indicated any flexibility to accommodate a change, meaning Ireland’s position appears firm.
The ICC delegation included Gaurav Saxena and Andrew Efford. Due to visa complications, Saxena joined the meeting virtually from Dhaka, while Efford attended in person. From the BCB, President Md. Aminul Islam, Vice-President Md. Shakawat Hossain, Faruk Ahmed, Cricket Operations Committee Chairman Nazmul Abedin, and CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury participated.
Following the discussions, the BCB confirmed that all parties agreed to continue constructive dialogue. The T20 World Cup will proceed as scheduled, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with the tournament commencing on 7 February and concluding on 8 March.
T20 World Cup Group Overview
| Group | Teams | Match Locations |
|---|---|---|
| B | Bangladesh, West Indies, England, Nepal, Italy | Kolkata, Mumbai (India) |
| C | Ireland, Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Oman | Colombo, Hambantota (Sri Lanka) |
The ICC has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the original schedule while ensuring player safety and logistical feasibility across both host nations.