Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Series Postponed; ACB Confirms Rescheduling Plans

Afghanistan’s white-ball series against Sri Lanka national cricket team has been postponed due to Middle East tensions and logistical challenges

The upcoming white-ball series between Afghanistan national cricket team and Sri Lanka national cricket team has been postponed due to the escalating military tensions in the Middle East.

Officials from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed on Tuesday that the decision was taken primarily because of travel disruptions and logistical complications arising from the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The bilateral series was originally scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates from March 13 to March 25 and was set to feature three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) followed by three T20 Internationals.

Security Concerns and Travel Issues Force Postponement

According to ACB officials, the worsening regional situation made it increasingly difficult to proceed with the tour as planned. With international travel routes disrupted and logistical arrangements becoming uncertain, the board decided to delay the series to ensure the safety and smooth coordination of the event.

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“Yes, the white-ball series against Sri Lanka is postponed,” ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan told Cricbuzz on Tuesday. “There were some issues with flights, logistics, and the regional situation.”

The series was initially expected to be hosted in the UAE, a common neutral venue for Afghanistan’s home fixtures. However, with travel disruptions affecting flight schedules and regional operations, organizers found it difficult to proceed with the planned itinerary.

Alternative Venue in Sri Lanka Explored

The ACB also explored the possibility of shifting the series to Sri Lanka to avoid complications in the Middle East. Discussions were held with Sri Lanka Cricket regarding the feasibility of hosting the matches there on short notice.

However, logistical challenges and travel constraints ultimately made that option unworkable. “We also explored a second option to stage these matches in Sri Lanka and remained in continuous contact with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. However, there were no available flights from the UAE to Sri Lanka at that time,” he said.

“Moreover, arranging production, hotels, ground bookings, and security within such a short period was quite challenging. Therefore, we ultimately decided to postpone it,” he said.

Series Expected Later in 2026; Zadran’s Captaincy Debut Delayed

Despite the postponement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed that the series will not be cancelled and is expected to take place later in the year once conditions stabilize.

“It (the series) will be played in the last quarter of this year,” he added. The T20I leg of the series was also expected to mark the beginning of a new leadership phase for Afghanistan in the shortest format. Star batter Ibrahim Zadran was set to begin his tenure as Afghanistan’s T20I captain after recently replacing star all-rounder Rashid Khan.

With the postponement, Zadran’s first assignment as T20I captain will now have to wait until the series is rescheduled later in 2026.