The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday asked the ICC to swap its national team with Ireland in Group C during the upcoming T20 World Cup in order to play in Sri Lanka instead of India.
Bangladesh are currently placed in Group C along with the West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal and are scheduled to play their matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.
Ireland are in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe and their matches are scheduled in Colombo and Pallekele.
The two-member ICC team, consisting of Gaurav Saxena, General Manager, Events and Corporate Communications, and Andrew Ephgrave, General Manager, Integrity Unit, was in Dhaka to convince BCB about the security arrangements in India and to follow the original schedule.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today held a meeting with representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss matters relating to Bangladesh's participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026,” said the BCB in a release after the meeting with ICC delegates.
Ephgrave attended the meeting in person but Saxena joined virtually after he failed to secure a Bangladesh visa in time.
“During the discussions, 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 BCB added.
From the BCB's side, president Mohammad Aminul Islam, vice presidents Md Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, Director and Chairman of Cricket Operations Committee Nazmul Abedeen and Chief Executive Officer Nizam Uddin Chowdhury attended the meeting.
However, it is learnt that the ICC is reluctant to accept Bangladesh's demand, considering the logical constraints and the enormous changes to the itinerary to be made deep into the tournament.
Bangladesh has been asking the global governing body to relocate its World Cup matches, scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai, on the pretext of a perceived security threat to its players.
The BCB raised this demand after national team pacer Mustafizur Rahman was abruptly delinked from his IPL contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders following a BCCI directive.
The BCB indicated that more dialogue will follow soon to find an amicable solution to the impasse.“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 and the ICC have agreed to continue engaging in constructive dialogue on this matter,” it noted.
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing venue dispute, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has proposed a radical "Group Swap" to the ICC to avoid playing their 2026 T20 World Cup matches in India.
This proposal was made during a high-stakes meeting in Dhaka on January 17, 2026, between BCB officials and an ICC delegation.
The "Surprise Proposal": Group Swapping
Bangladesh is currently placed in Group C, with matches scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai.
| Current Standing (Group C) | Proposed Move (Group B) |
| Current Group Members: England, West Indies, Italy, Nepal, Bangladesh | Target Group Members: Australia, Sri Lanka, Oman, Zimbabwe, Ireland |
| Venues: Kolkata & Mumbai (India) | Venues: Colombo & Pallekele (Sri Lanka) |
By swapping with Ireland, Bangladesh would play all their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka (the tournament's co-host) without requiring the ICC to build an entirely new schedule from scratch.
Root Causes of the Standoff
The relationship between the BCCI and BCB has hit an all-time low due to several overlapping factors:
The Mustafizur Rahman Incident: Earlier this month, the BCCI reportedly pressured KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL due to diplomatic tensions, which the BCB labeled as "discriminatory."
6 Security Concerns: The Bangladesh government claims the current political climate makes it unsafe for their players and fans to travel to India.
7 Political Fallout: Bangladesh has already banned the broadcast of the IPL in the country as a retaliatory measure.
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The ICC’s Dilemma
While the BCB describes the proposal as a way to facilitate the matter with "minimal logistical adjustments," the ICC remains reluctant.
Broadcasting Rights: Matchups like England vs. Bangladesh are high-value for certain markets.
Ticketing: Thousands of fans have already purchased tickets for Group B and C matches.
Fairness: Other teams in Group B may object to a stronger opponent (Bangladesh) being suddenly dropped into their path to the Super 8s.
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What Happens Next?
The ICC delegation, led by Andrew Ephgrave, has returned to discuss the feasibility of this swap with the Executive Board. If a resolution isn't reached soon, Bangladesh has hinted at a full withdrawal, which could lead to heavy ICC sanctions and the forfeiture of their matches.
Would you like me to track the ICC’s official response to this swap proposal once it is released?
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