Afghanistan’s three-match T20I series against India could be brought forward by several days, with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) proposing a revised September 11, 13 and 14 schedule as discussions continue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to a report by Cricbuzz journalist Vijay Tagore. The series is currently scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, but no formal decision on the proposed changes has yet been announced.
The push would place the final T20I on September 14, coinciding with Ganesh Chaturthi. The ACB has cited cultural events in India around the existing dates as part of its proposal, while requests from stakeholders connected to the series have also contributed to the move.
September 14 emerges as key date
The possibility of moving a match to September 14 had surfaced before the wider revised schedule emerged, as previously reported by cricexec. The latest proposal goes further by potentially restructuring the entire three-match window rather than shifting a single fixture.
ITW Universe, which holds the rights to the series, is involved as the two boards work towards a final arrangement. ITW Universe Co-founder Bhairav Shanth told IANS: “ACB has made the gesture and is in discussion with the BCCI. We should have a formal nod by Monday. 14th is a high possibility for one of the three matches.”
The commercial case behind the proposal centres on the opportunity presented by the festival period. The ACB believes the revised dates could support stronger television audiences and attendance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with the September 14 fixture potentially benefiting from its position on Ganesh Chaturthi.
Any alteration, however, also has to work operationally for the organisations responsible for staging the series. Shanth added: “The rest of the schedule will depend on the planning and logistics between DDCA, BCCI and ACB. We will share officially once the final revised schedule is out, as the discussions are still ongoing.”
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), which will stage all three matches, said it had no information about any revised schedule
Afghanistan holds hosting responsibility
While the entire series will take place in New Delhi, Afghanistan will be the designated host. That distinction also shapes responsibility for determining the eventual schedule, despite the matches being staged at a BCCI-affiliated venue in India.
A BCCI official told IANS: “This is Afghanistan’s call, not our call. They are hosting the matches as they don’t have a ground in their country to host international games right now. That’s why they have come to India to host this series. A call on this will come from ACB.”
The arrangement will make the series the first bilateral contest between the countries hosted by Afghanistan, despite being played on Indian soil. It adds another dimension to the two boards’ relationship, with India providing the venue for Afghanistan’s home series against the Indian team.
BCCI backs deeper Afghanistan cricket ties
The upcoming series forms part of a broader period of bilateral engagement between the BCCI and ACB, with India continuing to provide support for Afghanistan’s international cricket arrangements.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said in an official statement: “We recently hosted Afghanistan for a Test and ODI series in June, and this T20I series will mean the two teams have now competed against each other across all three formats. We look forward to welcoming the Afghanistan team to Delhi and are confident that this will be an exciting and memorable series.”
The relationship between the boards extends beyond the immediate set of fixtures. BCCI President Mithun Manhas said in an official statement: “The BCCI remains committed to supporting the growth of cricket in Afghanistan and providing its players with opportunities to compete at the highest level. Bilateral cricket is an important part of this, as it allows teams to play regularly against quality opposition and gain valuable experience. We welcome the Afghanistan Cricket Board to India for this series and look forward to working closely with them to make it a successful one. We believe there is scope to do more together and will continue to support Afghanistan cricket while strengthening the relationship between the two cricketing nations.”
Saikia also addressed the relationship between the two cricket boards and the upcoming series, adding: “The BCCI is pleased to support the Afghanistan Cricket Board in hosting this T20I series in India. The India-Afghanistan cricketing rivalry has produced some thrilling encounters over the years, with both teams boasting quality cricketers. Afghanistan’s players are also quite popular among fans in India, which is a reflection of the strong bond that has developed between the two cricketing nations. India hosting Afghanistan for their historic first Test in 2018 was another significant milestone in this journey, and since then, we have continued to see regular bilateral engagements between the two teams.”
Revised schedule awaits finalisation
The proposed change comes with India having room in its international calendar between the conclusion of its Test series in Sri Lanka on August 27 and the start of the Asian Games on September 24.
For now, September 13, 15 and 17 remain the announced dates for the three T20Is at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The ACB’s proposed September 11, 13 and 14 programme remains under discussion, with the final configuration dependent on the scheduling and logistical process involving the ACB, BCCI and DDCA.
