Afghanistan has confirmed September 13, 15 and 17 for its three-match T20I series against India at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, giving commercial and media partners clarity to advance preparations for the historic bilateral contest. The dates have been agreed with the BCCI, according to a report by Cricbuzz journalist Vijay Tagore.
The series will mark the first time Afghanistan officially hosts India in a bilateral series. Afghanistan has previously staged home matches at venues in India, including Lucknow, Dehradun and Greater Noida, but has not hosted the Indian national team in a bilateral contest.
Afghanistan formalises India series schedule
According to a letter accessed by Cricbuzz, Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan wrote to the board’s commercial partners: “The ACB hereby confirms that the India tour of Afghanistan 2026 (Event) is scheduled to take place from September 13 to September 17. The ACB further confirms that the dates of the Event have been confirmed and agreed with the BCCI and the venues of the scheduled matches have also been finalised.”
The confirmation comes as preparations continue across the commercial and broadcast sides of the three-match series.
Although a broader public announcement from the relevant authorities has yet to be made, the ACB is treating the schedule and venue as confirmed. The board has consequently given media-rights partners the go-ahead to advance their scheduling, production planning, resource allocation, promotional work and other preparations around the series.
The schedule could still undergo a limited adjustment, with discussions taking place over the possibility of moving one of the opening two matches to September 14 to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi. The confirmed series window itself remains September 13-17.
ITW Universe takes charge of broadcast production
Alongside the scheduling milestone, the series is developing into a significant media and commercial property. ITW Universe holds the media rights and will produce the broadcast, while FanCode holds the digital rights.
ITW Universe Co-Founder Bhairav Shanth told Cricbuzz: “This marks a landmark moment — Afghanistan officially hosting India in a bilateral series for the first time. ITW Universe, together with our world-class partners, will be producing the broadcast and bringing several visual and storytelling upgrades that fans have never experienced before.”
The potential Ganesh Chaturthi scheduling change could create a distinctive event window around the series, bringing a major bilateral T20 contest together with one of India’s prominent festivals. Any adjustment remains subject to the scheduling discussions being finalised.
ITW Universe is also working towards securing a television partner for the three matches. The rights arrangements therefore already include FanCode on the digital side, while the linear television component remains to be finalised.
Sponsors move early on historic series
Commercial demand has developed alongside the broadcast plans, with Indian brands already taking major positions around the series.
Shanth said on ITW Universe’s official Instagram account: “We are delighted that leading new-age Indian brands — Spinny, InsuranceDekho, and our long-standing partner Groww, India’s No. 1 investment platform — have already confirmed themselves as central top sponsors. Nearly 90% of the ground sponsorship and activation inventory for this groundbreaking series has already been sold. FanCode has also received an outstanding response on the OTT front. We look forward to welcoming a strong television partner as well — the more the merrier. Blessed.”
The early commitments from Spinny, InsuranceDekho and Groww, together with the sale of nearly 90% of the available ground sponsorship and activation inventory, demonstrate the commercial demand developing around Afghanistan’s first bilateral hosting of India.
For the ACB, the series combines sporting significance with an opportunity to generate greater visibility through broadcast distribution, brand partnerships and sponsorship activation around an India bilateral.
Afghanistan dates squeeze Bangladesh tour window
The confirmed September schedule also creates a major obstacle for India’s proposed six-match tour of Bangladesh.
As previously reported by cricexec, Bangladesh had been working to secure India’s visit amid government-level discussions over whether the tour could proceed. The proposed programme included three ODIs on September 1, 3 and 6 followed by T20Is on September 9, 12 and 13, with the final match falling on the same date as the opening Afghanistan T20I.
Bangladesh had been seeking a breakthrough as the available preparation window narrowed, with the BCCI expected to take direction from the Government of India over the tour. Afghanistan’s confirmed series now occupies part of the same September period, making the proposed Bangladesh schedule increasingly difficult to accommodate in its existing form.
Series opens new commercial chapter for Afghanistan cricket
Afghanistan’s previous use of Indian venues has created an established connection between the ACB and the Indian cricket market, but hosting India itself brings a different level of sporting and commercial significance.
The three-match series now has an agreed New Delhi venue and schedule, confirmed sponsors, digital distribution and broadcast production plans, while work continues towards securing a television partner. ITW Universe is also planning additional presentation and storytelling elements around its production of the series.
With the September 13-17 window confirmed between the ACB and BCCI, the remaining developments include whether the proposed Ganesh Chaturthi scheduling adjustment is completed and which television partner joins the distribution arrangements before Afghanistan hosts India in a bilateral series for the first time.
