Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The white-ball series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka has been postponed after escalating tensions in the Middle East disrupted travel and logistics, the Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The bilateral series, originally scheduled to begin on March 13 in the United Arab Emirates, has now been pushed to late 2026 due to ongoing regional uncertainties and flight restrictions affecting team movements.In a statement, the Afghanistan board explained that preparations had been completed after receiving the necessary sanction from the Emirates Cricket Board to stage the matches across two venues.“Following the receipt of the required sanction from the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), preparations had been finalised to host the matches at both venues. However, in early March, unforeseen developments created logistical constraints that affected travel arrangements and operational planning for the series,” the ACB said.The tour would have marked Afghanistan’s first time hosting Sri Lanka in a bilateral series and was set to feature six white-ball matches. Three T20 Internationals were scheduled to take place at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on March 13, 15 and 17, before the action shifted to Dubai International Cricket Stadium for three One-Day Internationals on March 20, 22 and 25.According to the ACB, several consultations were held with key stakeholders before the final decision was taken. The board confirmed that meetings involving venue authorities and organisers were conducted to monitor the evolving situation.“To address the situation, the Afghanistan Cricket Board held a series of consultations with key stakeholders, including the Emirates Cricket Board, Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Cricket Stadium,” the statement said.Despite efforts from all sides to proceed with the event, the logistical challenges remained beyond operational control.The ACB said the Sri Lanka Cricket board was kept informed throughout the process and agreed to the postponement. The UAE is expected to remain the preferred venue when the series is rescheduled.“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,” the ACB added.
