World Cup dispute intensifies as Bangladesh seeks to avoid playing in India
The ongoing standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) over match venues for the 2026 T20 World Cup — which first flared after the fallout between BCB and BCCI over Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL exclusion — has taken a new turn, with Cricket Ireland ruling out any possibility of swapping groups to accommodate Bangladesh’s demand to avoid playing in India.
According to a report by Cricbuzz’s Vijay Tagore, Ireland has firmly stated that it will play its scheduled Group Stage matches in Sri Lanka and that no change to the original tournament structure has been agreed.
BCB’s request to ICC aimed at relocating matches to Sri Lanka
As previously reported by Cricbuzz, the BCB formally proposed a group swap during a meeting with ICC officials in Dhaka on January 17, 2026. The goal was to replace Ireland in Group C — whose matches are set entirely in Sri Lanka — allowing Bangladesh to avoid fixtures scheduled in India as part of Group B.
Bangladesh’s current group includes West Indies, England, Nepal, and Italy, with matches scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai. Ireland, meanwhile, is placed alongside Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, and Oman, with all games hosted in Sri Lanka.
Cricket Ireland confirms it will stay in Sri Lanka
Cricket Ireland made it clear that its participation plans remain unchanged, and that the ICC has assured them of their original fixture schedule.
The BCB’s appeal to the ICC was rooted in concerns raised by the Bangladesh government regarding the safety of its team, fans, media, and other stakeholders in India. Following the January 17 meeting, the board reiterated its position in an official statement.
“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 statement read.
The BCB noted that the discussions with ICC representatives were productive but also confirmed that the group swap was specifically raised as a way to minimize logistical complications.
“The discussions were conducted in a constructive, cordial, and professional manner, with all parties engaging openly on the relevant issues. 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 added.
ICC yet to make final decision
While Ireland’s refusal to alter its plans appears definitive, the ICC has not yet announced a formal ruling on the matter. With the tournament scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, any change in group allocation or venue would need to be finalized soon.
For now, Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign remains caught in uncertainty, as venue politics continue to dominate the lead-up to cricket’s marquee T20 event.
