There was good news and bad for Ireland yesterday when the schedule for next year’s T20 World Cup was released by the ICC.

The good news is that the Boys in Green will play their four Group B matches in Sri Lanka, three in the capital Colombo and the last against Zimbabwe in Kandy, thereby avoiding energy-sapping trips around India, the co-hosts.

But Paul Stirling’s team could hardly have been handed a tougher start to the campaign, facing Sri Lanka on February 8 and Australia three days later — two of only four major sides they have never beaten in any format.

With two teams from each group of five progressing to the Super Eight, Ireland could be out of contention before facing minnows Oman on February 14 and the trip out to Kandy on February 17.

The squad’s preparations for the tournament intensify on Thursday with the first of a three-match T20 series in Chattogram, formerly Chittagong, where Ireland will be looking for their first series win on Bangladeshi soil.