• Updates from the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo

• Start time is 3pm local/8.30pm AEDT/9.30am GMT

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The news has just landed that Aussie captain Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of this opening match against Ireland having suffered a blow to the groin during training earlier this week. Apologies if you are just dipping into your morning muesli or evening meal but Marsh is suffering with “testicular bleeding” after taking a blow to the groin in training earlier in the week. Poor chap.

“He [Marsh] is experiencing ongoing pain and discomfort which is restricting his movement,” say Cricket Australia in their statement. “Scans have confirmed internal testicular bleeding, and he will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. His return to play will be guided by symptom resolution and medical advice. Standby player Steve Smith will travel to Sri Lanka as cover to acclimatise and prepare, should he be required.”

Team of pizza-makers and teachers brought together by a passion for the sport hope to win hearts back at home

In a basement office in the north of Rome, Riccardo Maggio is unpacking boxes of blue jerseys with “Italia” written on them. He sighs when the landline phone rings again, and then again. Maggio is on his own, multitasking in the headquarters of the Italian Cricket Federation, tucked away in the building that houses the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni), the governing body for national sports.

The room is small and improvised, its shelves cluttered with old trophies, faded photographs of players and souvenir cricket bats. The base for Italian cricket is hardly the nucleus of a global sporting moment. Yet, in a story that has largely flown under the radar in Italy, for the first time in their history the men’s national cricket team have qualified for the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, which begins this weekend.

• Bangladesh have refused to travel to co-hosts India

• Scotland will face England in group-stage match

Scotland have been handed a late call-up to the T20 World Cup after Bangladesh were removed following a refusal to play their matches in India over safety concerns.

Amid increasing tensions with neighbouring India, Bangladesh repeatedly requested to move their group stage games next month – three in Kolkata, including one against England, and one in Mumbai – to co-hosts Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh was scheduled to play three cricket matches in Kolkata next month, but concern about players’ safety has spiked

Bangladesh will not play their Twenty20 World Cup matches in India, with the country’s cricket board saying they are concerned for the safety of their players amid growing tensions between the countries.

Bangladesh were scheduled to play three Twenty20 World Cup matches in Kolkata next month, with the 7 February to 8 March tournament being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.