For three Twenty20 Internationals, Afghanistan will host Pakistan in Sharjah
The first bilateral series between the neighbours will take place in Sharjah later this month, as Afghanistan announced on Tuesday that it will host Pakistan for three T20 internationals.
The series against Pakistan will open Afghanistan’s domestic season, according to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
“Afghanistan’s international home season 2023-24 will begin with a three-match T20I home series against Pakistan to be played in Sharjah on March 25, 27 and 29,” said an ACB release.
Australia was scheduled to play Afghanistan in a one-day international series to open Afghanistan’s season this year, but Cricket Australia opted not to participate in protest of how women are treated in the war-torn nation.
For the same reason, Cricket Australia had already declined to host Afghanistan for a Test match in November 2021.
Pakistan’s decision to play his team was appreciated by ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf.
“We appreciate Pakistan Cricket Board’s willingness to play Afghanistan in March. This is a significant accomplishment for two neighbouring countries,” Ashraf said in the statement.
This will be the first bilateral series between Afghanistan and Pakistan; in major tournaments, the two teams have faced each other in three T20Is and four ODIs.
