Bangladesh has formally approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) with new requests ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, seeking changes to the tournament schedule that would allow the national team to play its group-stage matches primarily in Sri Lanka instead of multiple venues. The move is aimed at minimizing travel and addressing broader concerns ahead of the global event.
According to reports, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised the matter during a meeting with ICC officials in Dhaka on Saturday, January 17. During the discussions, the BCB reportedly proposed a potential group swap with Ireland. Such a change would place Bangladesh in a group largely scheduled in Sri Lanka, significantly reducing the need for the team to travel between different countries and cities during the group stage.
Under the existing schedule, Ireland are set to play their group matches against Sri Lanka, Australia, and Oman in Colombo, with their final fixture against Zimbabwe scheduled in Kandy. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have been placed in Group B, where they are due to face West Indies, Italy, and England in Kolkata, followed by a match against Nepal in Mumbai.
In an official statement issued later the same day, the BCB confirmed that it had formally requested the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s group-stage matches to Sri Lanka. The board also said it conveyed concerns raised by the Bangladesh government regarding safety and security for players, team officials, fans, media personnel, and other stakeholders. The BCB emphasized that the discussions with the ICC were conducted in a professional manner and that several options were explored, including adjustments that would cause minimal disruption to the overall tournament schedule.
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However, Cricket Ireland has strongly rejected reports suggesting any change to its fixtures. Officials from Cricket Ireland stated that they have received clear assurances that their team’s schedule will remain unchanged. An Irish cricket official was quoted as saying that the team fully expects to play its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka as originally planned.
The ICC has yet to announce a final decision on Bangladesh’s request.
