Afghanistan to Host India for T20I Series in September
Upcoming T20I Series Details
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced that Afghanistan will face India in a three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi from September 13 to 17.
The series will kick off on September 13, with the second match set for September 15 and the final game on September 17. All matches will take place at the same venue. This series is part of Afghanistan's Future Tours Program and will be hosted in India, where Afghanistan has held its home matches in recent years, as stated by the BCCI.
Officials Express Enthusiasm for the Series
Mithun Manhas, President of the BCCI, expressed, "The BCCI is dedicated to fostering the growth of cricket in Afghanistan and providing players with opportunities to compete at the highest levels. Bilateral cricket is crucial as it allows teams to regularly face quality opponents and gain essential experience. We are excited to welcome the Afghanistan Cricket Board to India for this series and look forward to collaborating closely to ensure its success. We see potential for further cooperation and will continue to support Afghanistan cricket while enhancing the relationship between our two cricketing nations."
Devajit Saikia, Secretary of the BCCI, added, "The BCCI is delighted to assist the Afghanistan Cricket Board in organizing this T20I series in India. The cricketing rivalry between India and Afghanistan has led to some thrilling matches over the years, with both teams featuring talented players. Afghan cricketers are quite popular among Indian fans, highlighting the strong bond between our nations. Hosting Afghanistan for their inaugural Test in 2018 was a significant milestone, and we have since maintained regular bilateral engagements."
"We recently hosted Afghanistan for a Test and ODI series in June, and this T20I series will complete our encounters across all three formats. We eagerly await the arrival of the Afghanistan team in Delhi and are confident that this series will be both exciting and memorable."
Enhancing Bilateral Relations
This upcoming series will further strengthen the cricketing ties between India and Afghanistan. Afghanistan last visited India for a three-match ODI series in June, and the two teams also competed in a T20I series in January 2024, according to the BCCI. India hosted Afghanistan for their historic first Test match in 2018, and since then, the teams have engaged regularly across various formats.
ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf remarked, "This series is of great importance for Afghanistan cricket and signifies a crucial step in our long-standing relationship with the BCCI. Hosting India for a bilateral series in their home country is a significant achievement for us, and we greatly appreciate the BCCI's support in making this event happen."
"We have held our home matches in both India and the UAE in recent years, and given the significance of this series, we believe India is an ideal venue. We are optimistic that the series will create valuable opportunities in commercial, technical, and cricketing aspects, while adding a new dimension to our bilateral engagement. We look forward to a successful series and to further solidifying our partnership with the BCCI."
Match Schedule
The three-match T20I series between Afghanistan and India is set to take place in Delhi, with the first match on September 13, followed by the second on September 15 and the third on September 17.