Sports

Afghanistan explores tri-series with UAE, Pakistan

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has proposed a tri-series involving Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with A team tours to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. This plan was unveiled during the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual Board Meeting in Colombo, attended by ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf and CEO Naseeb Khan.

“Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Chairman, Mr. Mirwais Ashraf, and CEO, Mr. Naseeb Khan, attended the ICC Board Meeting held this week in Sri Lanka, which included representatives from other member countries,” the ACB stated in a press release. “During the meeting, ACB’s leadership presented recent achievements, activities, and future plans for the Afghanistan Cricket Board.”

The ACB’s discussions with Cricket South Africa, Cricket New Zealand, and Cricket West Indies focused on potential white-ball series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. “The discussions also included A team tours to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and the possibility of a Youth Tri-Series against Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, with dates and venues to be confirmed,” the statement added.

The ICC leadership and meeting participants praised the ACB and the Afghanistan national team, known as AfghanAtalan, for their recent accomplishments in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The Afghan team, under the leadership of Rashid Khan, made headlines by defeating Australia and New Zealand and reaching the semi-finals for the first time in an ICC event. Although they were defeated by South Africa in the semi-finals, Afghanistan showcased aggressive and skillful cricket throughout the tournament, earning widespread admiration.

The ACB’s plans for future series and tours aim to build on these successes and continue the development of cricket in Afghanistan, contributing to the global cricket community and entertaining fans worldwide.