Afghanistan are set to welcome India for an international cricket series for the first time, with three T20 matches in September potentially being staged in Delhi. If the schedule is confirmed, it could also serve as an important bilateral window for India ahead of the Asian Games, where the cricket competition begins later in the month.
Key takeaways
- Afghanistan and India are expected to play a three-match T20I series in September, with Delhi likely to host the games.
- Proposed dates under consideration are September 13, 16 and 19, though no official confirmation has been issued yet.
- The series is understood to have progressed after the Afghanistan Cricket Board approached the BCCI for a return tour.
- Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to be used as Afghanistan’s home venue, despite the matches being played on Indian soil.
- India’s selection process for the Asian Games—starting September 23—could make this T20I block a key part of preparation.
Delhi likely to serve as Afghanistan’s home ground
While an official announcement is yet to be made, the arrangement is reported to have moved forward following discussions between the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the BCCI. The understanding would give Afghanistan a rare scenario of acting as the designated host side against India, even though the fixtures are to be conducted in India.
One point highlighted in the development is the relationship between the two boards and the wider support BCCI has extended to other cricketing nations. The reported view is that BCCI has previously helped boards such as Ireland, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe by arranging tours involving Indian teams to strengthen those boards’ financial prospects. The current series is expected to follow a similar cooperative framework, with further formalities still needed before a public confirmation.
On the ground, the venue planning is also being handled with the involvement of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. The Arun Jaitley Stadium is widely expected to become Afghanistan’s home base for the series. Afghanistan have historically used alternative locations for “home” fixtures—spanning venues in India and the UAE—largely due to security and logistical constraints that come with hosting international cricket in their own country.
As per the reported understanding, the BCCI has played a facilitative role linking the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the DDCA and the availability of the ground. In parallel, the DDCA is said to be scheduling its Delhi Premier League T20 in a way that accommodates the international fixtures.
Timing could matter for India’s Asian Games squad selection
The significance of the proposed dates goes beyond the bilateral contest. India’s selectors are expected to name a 15-member T20 squad for the Asian Games, with the cricket event scheduled to start on September 23. With that timeline in mind, the Afghanistan series—if finalised—could fall within India’s immediate preparation window, potentially influencing both selection discussions and match practice for players in the T20 pool.
It is also reported that the itinerary has been shared with India’s national selection committee. Since the Asian Games cricket competition is due to begin on September 23, the selectors will shape the squad accordingly, with the Afghanistan T20Is potentially acting as a relevant reference point for form and combinations.
Afghanistan are already slated to tour India in June for a Test and three ODIs. However, the September T20I series carries a different flavour because Afghanistan would be formally positioned as the host team for the T20 matches—an opportunity that will bring both visibility and a notable assignment against one of the world’s most prominent cricketing sides.
For Afghanistan, the proposed fixtures are expected to offer enhanced exposure, additional revenue and another high-profile chance to take on India. For India, the series aligns with the BCCI’s recent approach of supporting smaller boards through bilateral cricket, while also providing selectors with a useful T20I stretch ahead of a major multi-sport event.
If the plan is completed, the series will carry a symbolic first—Afghanistan hosting India, yet with the action staged in Delhi, effectively turning the national capital into a neutral “home territory” for a team that has built much of its cricketing path away from its own grounds.
