Overview
- The Bangladesh Cricket Board restated it will not send the team to India and formally asked the ICC to move its group-stage matches to Sri Lanka for security reasons.
- In talks with ICC officials in Dhaka on January 17, the BCB proposed swapping groups with Ireland so Bangladesh could play entirely in Sri Lanka with limited logistical changes.
- Cricket Ireland said it has received “definitive assurances” from the ICC that its Group B schedule in Sri Lanka will not change, effectively rejecting a swap.
- The ICC delegation featured Andrew Ephgrave in person and Gaurav Saxena virtually after a visa delay, with both sides describing the discussions as constructive.
- Reporting indicates the ICC is reluctant to rework fixtures so close to the tournament due to logistics and broadcast commitments, and with matches starting February 7 the impasse persists.