NEW DELHI — Afghanistan will host India in a three-match Twenty20 International series in New Delhi in September, with all three matches to be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said.
The series will begin on Sept. 13, followed by matches on Sept. 15 and Sept. 17, the boards said in a joint confirmation on Wednesday. Afghanistan will be designated the home side despite the fixtures being played in India.
Afghanistan has used overseas venues for home matches in recent years, with the United Arab Emirates among its main bases. International cricket has not resumed in Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power in 2021 and continuing security concerns, according to Reuters.
ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said India was considered an appropriate venue given the importance and scale of the series.
"We have hosted our home fixtures in both India and the UAE in recent years, and given the importance and scale of this series, we believe India provides an excellent setting for the event," Ashraf said in a statement.
BCCI President Mithun Manhas said the Indian board remained committed to supporting the development of Afghan cricket and would continue working with the ACB.
The series is part of Afghanistan's Future Tours Programme and will give the teams bilateral matches across all three formats. The two sides met in a Test and three-match ODI series in India in June, with India winning the Test by an innings and 300 runs before completing a 3-0 ODI sweep.
The upcoming T20I series will be the latest bilateral engagement between the teams. India hosted Afghanistan for their first Test in 2018, while the sides also played a three-match T20I series in India in January 2024.
BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia said the T20I series would complete the current cycle of bilateral contests between the teams across Test, ODI and T20 formats.
The fixtures are scheduled to take place at the same Delhi venue on Sept. 13, 15 and 17. The ACB and BCCI have confirmed the series and venue, with no further changes announced.
