A proposed bilateral T20I series between Afghanistan and India in Delhi is in doubt because its dates overlap with India’s tour of Bangladesh. The three matches are pencilled in for September 13, 15 and 17 at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Afghanistan have staged home games in India before because they lack international venues of their own, but this would be the first time they officially host India on Indian soil.
The scheduling problem
India’s Bangladesh tour includes three ODIs on September 1, 3 and 6 and three T20Is on September 9, 12 and 13. That leaves very little time for travel and recovery before the Afghanistan games, so it is unclear whether the series can go ahead as planned.
To make it possible, the BCCI has worked with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the Delhi and District Cricket Association to make Delhi Afghanistan’s temporary home venue. The DDCA has altered the Delhi Premier League T20 calendar to fit the matches in.
Wider context
The Bangladesh trip is expected to fill the first half of September. Relations between the two countries have improved since Tarique Rahman became Bangladesh’s Prime Minister in February 2026, allowing bilateral cricket to resume after a period of political uncertainty.
The Afghanistan series also falls just before the Asian Games, which start on September 23, and the selectors have received the proposed schedule as they prepare to name a 15-man T20 squad. India’s calendar offers little slack: a Test tour of Sri Lanka runs from August 15 to 27, then Bangladesh, possibly Afghanistan, and a West Indies tour beginning on September 27.
The BCCI and the ACB are reported to have reached a broad understanding, but no official confirmation has been given. Any change to the dates could affect the rest of India’s programme.
