Ahead of the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take into account a group swap. On January 17, BCB officials and ICC representatives met in Dhaka, where the request was made.
Bangladesh would be able to play all of their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka if the BCB were to replace Ireland in Group C, according to Cricbuzz. Ireland’s last group encounter is slated to take place in Kandy against Zimbabwe. They are currently scheduled to play Sri Lanka, Australia, and Oman in Colombo.
In contrast, Bangladesh has been assigned to Group B and will play three of their group games in India—against England, Italy, and the West Indies in Kolkata—before going to Mumbai to play Nepal.
Following the talks, the BCB acknowledged the meeting with ICC officials in an official statement.
“The BCB reaffirmed to the ICC its official request to move Bangladesh’s games to Sri Lanka. According to the statement cited by Cricbuzz, “The Board also shared the Bangladesh Government’s views and concerns on safety and security of the team, Bangladeshi fans, media, and other stakeholders.”
“All participants engaged candidly on the pertinent topics during the productive, friendly, and professional talks. The prospect of transferring Bangladesh to a separate group as a way to facilitate the situation with the fewest logistical changes was examined, among other things, it continued.
After bowler Mustafizur Rahman was cut by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2026, Bangladesh became reluctant to travel to India for the ICC T20 World Cup. It was reported that pressure from Indian political and religious groups led to his sudden dismissal from the squad. Asif Nazrul, a sports expert, urged the BCB to reevaluate sending the national squad to India for the international competition after the development sparked intense emotions in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s sports ministry suggested that the BCB publicly approach the ICC to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be shifted away from Indian sites in response to growing political and public pressure.
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