The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed the broadly reported dates for the three-match T20I collection in opposition to India in New Delhi. In a letter to stakeholders on Monday (August 10), the ACB mentioned the matches can be performed on September 13, 15 and 17 on the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The ACB additionally acknowledged that the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) had agreed to the dates.
“The ACB hereby confirms that the India tour of Afghanistan 2026 (Occasion) is scheduled to happen from September 13 to September 17. The ACB additional confirms that the dates of the Occasion have been confirmed and agreed with the BCCI and the venues of the scheduled matches have additionally been finalised,” ACB CEO Naseeb Khan wrote to the board’s business companions in a letter, accessed by Cricbuzz.
The Afghan Board’s formal assertion has now just about dominated out the potential for the Indian workforce’s tour of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had earmarked September 1 to 13 for the six white-ball video games, and a minimum of one match of the Afghanistan collection clashes with that window. With lower than three weeks to go earlier than the proposed BCB dates, the Bangladesh collection now seems all however useless, barring the unlikely occasion of a last-minute directive from the governments. Cricbuzz reached out to the BCCI on this.
The ACB additional acknowledged, “Whereas an official public announcement relating to the occasion is but to be made by the involved authorities, the ACB is issuing this letter as an official affirmation of the scheduled dates and venues of the India tour of Afghanistan 2026. Accordingly all media rights holders could proceed with their advance planning, scheduling and manufacturing preparations, useful resource allocation, promotional actions and different associated preparations based mostly on the above schedule.”
Cricbuzz understands that ITW Universe, which holds the media rights, is in talks with JioStar, Sony Sports activities and Zee Unite8 for the linear rights of the three matches. The broadcaster is predicted to be finalised in 24 hours. FanCode holds the digital rights.
In the meantime, the ACB has opened additional negotiations with the BCCI, providing to maneuver one of many video games to September 14, the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Sources aware of the event have revealed that the Afghanistan board has requested the BCCI if it could be doable to maneuver the primary or second match to September 14, thereby giving the collection a festive contact.
“I might not prefer to remark prematurely on any potential date changes that the Afghanistan Cricket Board could also be contemplating. Ought to such a improvement materialise, aligning this historic collection with Ganesh Chaturthi — a day of recent beginnings, devotion and celebration throughout India — could be a considerate and gracious gesture from the ACB, reflecting the spirit of friendship that cricket continues to foster between India and Afghanistan,” ITW co-founder Bhairav Shanth instructed Cricbuzz.
Shanth mentioned there may be loads of pleasure round this collection. “This marks a landmark second — Afghanistan formally internet hosting India in a bilateral collection for the primary time. ITW Universe, along with our world-class companions, can be producing the published and bringing a number of visible and storytelling upgrades that followers have by no means skilled earlier than.”
There’s scope to do extra along with ACB: Mithun Manas
The BCCI confirmed the collection formally on Wednesday (August 12) with president Mithun Manhas reiterating that the BCCI remained steadfast in its help of Afghanistan cricket.
“The BCCI stays dedicated to supporting the expansion of cricket in Afghanistan and offering its gamers with alternatives to compete on the highest stage. Bilateral cricket is a vital a part of this, because it permits groups to play usually in opposition to high quality opposition and acquire worthwhile expertise,” Manhas mentioned.
“We welcome the Afghanistan Cricket Board to India for this collection and look ahead to working intently with them to make it a profitable one. We imagine there may be scope to do extra collectively and can proceed to help Afghanistan cricket whereas strengthening the connection between the 2 cricketing nations.”
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia added: “The India-Afghanistan cricketing rivalry has produced some thrilling encounters over time, with each groups boasting high quality cricketers. Afghanistan’s gamers are additionally fairly well-liked amongst followers in India, which is a mirrored image of the sturdy bond that has developed between the 2 cricketing nations.
“India internet hosting Afghanistan for his or her historic first Take a look at in 2018 was one other important milestone on this journey, and since then, we’ve continued to see common bilateral engagements between the 2 groups.
“We not too long ago hosted Afghanistan for a Take a look at and ODI collection in June, and this T20I collection will imply the 2 groups have now competed in opposition to one another throughout all three codecs,” Saikia added.
*This story was up to date with affirmation from BCCI and quotes from key workplace bearers at 11:15 AM on August 12, 2026
