NEW DELHI: Cricket Ireland (CI) responded after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) suggested to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that their group in the T20 World Cup be swapped with Ireland's, allowing Bangladesh to play their matches 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.
However, Cricket Ireland said they have received "definitive assurances" that their World Cup schedule will remain unchanged. The board added that Ireland will play all of their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
"We've received definitive assurances that we won't move from the original schedule. We're definitely playing the Group Stage in Sri Lanka," an official from CI told Cricbuzz in a statement.
BCB has refused to back down on its demand to move its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.
"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 said.
BCB 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 board 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.
