Kabul, 11 March 2026: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announces that the Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka bilateral series, originally scheduled to commence on 13 March in the United Arab Emirates, has been rescheduled to the last quarter of 2026 due to logistical challenges, including flight constraints arising from the ongoing regional situation.
The series, which was to mark the first occasion of Afghanistan hosting
Sri Lanka, was scheduled to feature six white-ball matches. The three T20
International matches were planned to be staged at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium
on 13, 15, and 17 March, followed by three One Day Internationals at the Dubai
International Cricket Stadium on 20, 22, and 25 March.
Following the receipt of the required sanction from the Emirates
Cricket Board (ECB), preparations had been finalized for hosting the matches
across the two venues. However, in early March, unforeseen developments created
logistical constraints that affected travel arrangements and operational
planning for the series.
To address the situation, the Afghanistan Cricket Board held a series
of consultations with key stakeholders, including the Emirates Cricket Board
(ECB), Sharjah Cricket Stadium (SCS), and Dubai International Cricket Stadium
(DICS). A joint meeting convened by the ACB on 4 March resulted in a
recommendation to monitor the situation and reassess by 6 March, in the hope
that conditions would improve. A subsequent follow-up meeting on 7 March
recommended waiting until 9 March before making a final determination.
Despite the collective efforts of all parties to proceed with the event
as planned, the logistical challenges remained beyond operational control,
leading to the decision to postpone the series and explore rescheduling
options.
Throughout this process, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) was kept
fully informed, and the decision to postpone the series was made in
consultation and with the consent of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The preferred venue for the rescheduled series remains the United Arab
Emirates, and the new dates will be announced in due course following further
coordination between the respective boards and stakeholders.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board extends its sincere appreciation to the Emirates Cricket Board, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and Sri Lanka Cricket for their continued cooperation and support in addressing this matter and safeguarding the interests of all parties involved.
ACB remains committed to delivering the series at the earliest suitable opportunity and to continuing its strong cricketing relationship with Sri Lanka Cricket.
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
Commercial
Department
Afghanistan
Cricket Board (ACB)
Email:
Marketing@Afghancricket.af
Website: www.acb.af