Afghanistan and India Set for T20 Series in Delhi
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have officially revealed a three-match T20 International series between Afghanistan and India. This exciting event will take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from September 13 to 17, 2026.
This series will be Afghanistan’s official “home” matches under the Future Tours Program and continues the trend of hosting their games in India. Interestingly, this series will directly coincide with India’s planned tour of Bangladesh, which has been paused due to ongoing tensions between the two cricket boards.
Afghanistan vs India: Match Schedule
- 1st T20I: September 13
- 2nd T20I: September 15
- 3rd T20I: September 17
This series marks the completion of India’s bilateral commitments with Afghanistan for the year, following a Test and ODI series that took place in June.
BCCI President Mithun Manhas has emphasized India’s dedication to supporting Afghan cricket and maintaining regular matches between the two nations. Additionally, BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia spoke about the importance of this T20 series after earlier matches this year.
Rohan Jaitley, President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association, also reassured fans about the top-notch facilities at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, promising thrilling matches.
Is the India-Bangladesh Tour on Hold?
Bangladesh is still working towards hosting India for the postponed white-ball series, with their new government seeking diplomatic solutions to resolve the issues. Discussions at the ministerial level are ongoing, as Bangladesh aims to restore sporting relations with India.
Sports Minister Aminul Haque expressed optimism about resolving this uncertainty soon, stating that efforts are underway to break the deadlock created during the Cricket World Cup discussions.
“We want to clear this matter quickly. We hope to strengthen our friendly ties with India through sports,” Haque mentioned, reflecting the government’s commitment.
What’s Causing the Delay in the India Tour?
The uncertainty around the India-Bangladesh tour stems from Bangladesh’s earlier decision not to send its team to the 2026 T20 World Cup due to safety concerns. Following a government change, there’s renewed hope for mending relations through cricket.
Newly appointed BCB president Tamim Iqbal remains positive about an eventual India tour, emphasizing that Bangladesh is a safe place for international cricket.
However, the announcement of the Afghanistan series means that India’s September schedule is already filled. If there are plans to reinstate the series with Bangladesh, both cricket boards will need to find new dates.
For now, the Afghanistan T20 series is the only confirmed engagement for India in September, while Bangladesh continues to seek clarity on their series against India.
