Cricket: ACB postpones Afghanistan-Sri Lanka white-ball series

The intended white-ball series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka has been rescheduled towards the matter part of 2026, according to an official announcement made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

The bilateral series between hosts Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, consisting three each of T20 Internationals and One Day Internationals, was to commence on Friday (13) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region which has caused logistical challenges, flight cancellations and other issues, the ACB had proposed the six-match series to be put off.

The series included three T20Is to be played at Sharjah on March 13, 15 and 17, and the ODIs at the Dubai International Stadium on March 20, 22 and 25.

Following the onslaught by a joint USA-Israel attack, Iran retaliated mostly to USA bases located within the Middle East countries creating a hostile situation in the region.  

“The ACB has held discussions with key stakeholders, including the Emirates Cricket Board, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A joint meeting convened by the ACB on March 4 resulted in a recommendation to monitor the situation and reassess by March 6, in the hope that conditions would improve. A subsequent follow-up meeting on March 7 recommended waiting until March 9 before making a final determination,” an official communique by ACB said.

The ACB even released the Afghanistan squad for the three T20 Internationals before tensions escalated in the region, which directly affects the six games. But with the situation showing little or no improvement to hold the series as intended, has forced the ACB to postpone the series to the latter part of 2026.

Options were kept open for ACB to host the series in Sri Lanka, but eventually failed to materialise.