Lagatar24 Desk
In a historic first, Afghanistan will host Sri Lanka in a bilateral white-ball series, marking the first time the Afghan team has officially hosted the island nation. The tour will feature one T20I series and one ODI series, comprising a total of six matches to be played in the UAE from March 13 to March 25.
T20Is in Sharjah, ODIs in Dubai
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that the tour will include three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals. The T20I matches are scheduled for March 13, 15, and 17 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, while the ODI fixtures will be played on March 20, 22, and 25 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This will be the second bilateral T20I series between the two sides, who last met in the format in February 2024. In ODIs, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have faced each other in bilateral contests in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Boost to Bilateral Ties and Competitive Cricket
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan stated that the series would further strengthen cricketing ties between the two boards. He expressed confidence that Sri Lanka, given its recent form, would provide strong competition and deliver exciting matches for fans. Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley De Silva also described playing under Afghanistan’s hosting as a special experience that would aid in future preparations.
Tight International Calendar Window
The series will take place shortly after the Men’s T20 World Cup, which concludes on March 8. The ODI series will end on March 25, just a day before the start of major franchise tournaments such as the IPL and PSL on March 26, making it a strategically placed engagement in the international cricket calendar.
