The Afghanistan Cricket Board has confirmed the dates for India’s three-match T20I series in September, further complicating India’s proposed white-ball tour of Bangladesh.
Afghanistan will host India in a bilateral series for the first time, with all three matches scheduled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17.
The ACB informed its commercial partners on Monday that the dates had been agreed with the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The board also said broadcasters and other partners could begin preparations based on the schedule.
The dates create a direct clash with India’s proposed tour of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had planned three ODIs on September 1, 3 and 6, followed by three T20Is on September 9, 12 and 13.
The third T20I in Bangladesh and the opening match of the Afghanistan series are therefore scheduled for the same day. Even a rearrangement of the Afghanistan fixtures would leave India with a tight schedule if the Bangladesh itinerary remains unchanged.
As a result, India’s Bangladesh tour now appears increasingly unlikely in its current form. However, the series has not been formally cancelled, and any final decision will depend on discussions between the relevant authorities.
The proposed Bangladesh tour has already faced uncertainty. The BCCI had earlier kept the series on hold while awaiting guidance from the Indian government. The BCB had also continued to monitor the situation rather than treating the tour as confirmed.
The ACB has meanwhile discussed a possible adjustment to its schedule, with reports suggesting that one of the first two T20Is could be moved to September 14 to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi. Such a change, however, would not resolve the wider scheduling issue on its own.
For Bangladesh, the latest development leaves the proposed six-match series facing another hurdle. Unless the itinerary is substantially changed or a decision is taken at board or government level, India’s September tour of Bangladesh is unlikely to go ahead as originally planned.
