Afghanistan’s white-ball series against Sri Lanka has hit the brakes after rising military tensions across the Middle East disrupted travel and logistics. The matches, scheduled in the United Arab Emirates from 13 to 25 March, included three ODIs and three T20 internationals.
Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Naseeb Khan confirmed the decision on Tuesday, pointing directly at the region’s unstable situation. He admitted organisers battled major logistical headaches, from cancelled flights to security arrangements.
Khan explained that the board explored every workaround before pulling the plug. “There were some issues with flights, logistics, and the regional situation,” he said, outlining how the conflict shut down normal travel routes and left the schedule in chaos.
Officials even floated a relocation plan. The board held discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket about shifting the matches to Sri Lankan soil, but the idea collapsed when airlines halted flights between the UAE and Sri Lanka during the crisis window.
Khan admitted the operational demands proved impossible to solve at short notice. “Arranging production, hotels, ground bookings, and security within such a short period was quite challenging,” he said, effectively confirming the series had run out of runway.
The postponement also delays a key leadership transition in Afghanistan’s T20 side. Ibrahim Zadran recently replaced Rashid Khan as captain in the shortest format and had lined up this series as the first chapter of his new tenure.
Instead, that debut must wait. The ACB plans to stage the tour in the final quarter of the year once the region stabilises and travel resumes.
