Bangladesh have approached the International Cricket Council with fresh requests ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, asking for changes that would allow them to play their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka rather than across multiple venues.
Reports indicate the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised the issue during a meeting with ICC representatives in Dhaka on Saturday (January 17). The board is understood to have proposed a group swap with Ireland, a move that would place Bangladesh in a group scheduled largely in Sri Lanka and reduce the need for travel elsewhere.
Under the current schedule, Ireland are set to face Sri Lanka, Australia and Oman in Colombo, with their final group match slated for Kandy against Zimbabwe. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are listed in Group B with fixtures against West Indies, Italy and England in Kolkata, followed by a match against Nepal in Mumbai.
In a statement issued later the same day, the BCB said it formally asked the ICC to shift Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka, adding that it also conveyed the Bangladesh government’s concerns related to safety and security for the team, supporters, media and other stakeholders. The board said discussions were held in a professional manner and that options—including changing Bangladesh’s group with minimal disruption—were discussed.
However, Cricket Ireland has pushed back strongly on the reports, saying it has received clear assurances that its team’s schedule will not be altered. An official from Cricket Ireland was quoted as saying the side expects to play the group stage in Sri Lanka as originally planned.