Ireland to Skip India in T20 World Cup

Cricket Ireland has taken a firm stance amid the growing logistical complexities surrounding the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, announcing that it will not travel to India for the tournament. The board has clarified that it will, however, honour its scheduled fixtures in Sri Lanka, after receiving formal assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

A Cricket Ireland official told CricBuzz, “We have received clear confirmation from the ICC that the scheduled fixtures will not be relocated. We will definitely play our group-stage matches in Sri Lanka as planned.”

Ireland is drawn in Group C, alongside co-host Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, and Oman. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has been placed in Group B, featuring West Indies, England, Nepal, and Italy. The matches in Bangladesh’s group are scheduled to take place in Kolkata and Mumbai, both in India.

Given the current circumstances, Bangladesh has expressed reluctance to travel to India. As a result, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) submitted a formal proposal to the ICC seeking a possible group swap to minimise logistical challenges. A meeting was held on Saturday in Dhaka with ICC representatives to discuss the matter.

The BCB stated, “Alongside other matters, we discussed the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group to reduce logistical complications with minimal disruption.”

However, neither the ICC nor Cricket Ireland appeared willing to accommodate a change, meaning Ireland’s position remains firm.

The ICC delegation included Gaurav Saxena and Andrew Figg-Reeves. Due to visa complications, Saxena participated virtually, while Figg-Reeves attended in person. From the BCB, President Md. Aminul Islam, Vice President Md. Shakawat Hossain, CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, and Cricket Operations Committee Chairman Najmul Abedin, alongside Faruk Ahmed, were present.

Following the discussions, the BCB confirmed that the talks were constructive and all parties agreed to continue coordination. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, commencing on 7 February 2026 and concluding on 8 March 2026.

Tournament Group Overview

The confirmation solidifies Ireland’s intent to play only in Sri Lanka, while logistical adjustments for other teams continue to be under ICC consideration.