The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed the six-match white-ball series against Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to begin in the United Arab Emirates on 13 March 2026, will not go ahead as planned.
The series, comprising three T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals, has been pushed to the last quarter of 2026 following the escalation of the Iran war and its direct impact on air travel and ground logistics across the Gulf region.
Both the ACB and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had finalised preparations well in advance, with all necessary sanctions received from the Emirates Cricket Board. The breakdown came in early March when flight restrictions and airport closures in the UAE created obstacles that neither board could work around in time.
The Iran War’s Operational Impact on UAE Flights and Cricket
Fighting has spread across the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, with Tehran responding with drone and missile attacks on Gulf targets. Dubai International Airport was briefly closed as Iran fired projectiles at targets across the region. The closures and restrictions on airspace created a domino effect on travel arrangements for cricket teams using the UAE as a base.
A Sri Lanka Cricket official confirmed to AFP that the series had to be cancelled because of the flight situation and the ongoing fighting in the region. The ACB, in its official statement, described unforeseen developments in early March that created logistical constraints affecting both travel arrangements and operational planning, without naming the conflict directly, referring only to “the ongoing regional situation.”
Series Schedule: T20Is in Sharjah, ODIs in Dubai
The series was to begin with three T20 Internationals at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on March 13, 15, and 17. The three ODIs were then scheduled at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 20, 22, and 25. All six matches were white-ball fixtures, making it a complete limited-overs bilateral series.
The UAE would have served as Afghanistan’s home venue, as it has done for all of Afghanistan’s bilateral series. Afghanistan has never hosted an international match on home soil, and the UAE continues to be their preferred neutral ground.
Ibrahim Zadran’s Captaincy Debut Put on Hold
The postponement carries added significance for Afghanistan cricket. The series was set to be Ibrahim Zadran’s first as captain, having taken over the leadership role from Rashid Khan following Afghanistan’s group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup. Zadran’s captaincy debut now has no confirmed date.
This was also to be the first time Afghanistan had hosted Sri Lanka in a bilateral series, adding a historic dimension to what was already a milestone assignment for the new captain.
The Decision Timeline: Three Meetings in Five Days
The ACB did not make an abrupt call. According to the board’s official statement, a joint meeting on March 4, involving the ACB, Emirates Cricket Board, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and Dubai International Cricket Stadium, resulted in a recommendation to monitor the situation and reassess by March 6.
A follow-up meeting on March 7, then recommended holding off until March 9 before making a final determination. Only after that March 9 review did the decision to postpone get confirmed.
The measured approach reflects how seriously all parties tried to keep the series alive, waiting as long as operationally possible before pulling the plug just four days before the first T20I was due to be bowled.
ACB Announces Series Delay, UAE to Continue as Host
The ACB said in its statement, “Despite the collective efforts of all parties to proceed with the event as planned, the logistical challenges remained beyond operational control, leading to the decision to postpone the series and explore rescheduling options.”
The board confirmed the UAE is expected to remain the preferred venue, with a target window in the last quarter of 2026. New dates will be announced following further coordination between the boards and stakeholders.
Sri Lanka Cricket was kept fully informed throughout the process and agreed to the postponement. The ACB also acknowledged the Emirates Cricket Board, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and Dubai International Cricket Stadium for their cooperation.
Middle East Conflict Triggers Wider Cricket Fallout
The Afghanistan-Sri Lanka series is not an isolated case. Six matches from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in Nepal, involving Oman, the UAE, and the hosts, were also postponed because of the conflict. ICC Board meetings in Doha were called off for the same reason.
Teams that had been in India and Sri Lanka for the men’s T20 World Cup were stranded due to airspace restrictions. The West Indies and South Africa contingents were stuck in Kolkata for several days before receiving clearance to fly out on Tuesday.
Gary Kirsten Appointed as Sri Lanka Head Coach
Amid the series cancellation news, Sri Lanka Cricket also confirmed Gary Kirsten as their new head coach. The former South African Test batter, who previously coached India from 2008 to 2011 and South Africa from 2011 to 2013, will begin a two-year contract on April 15. He replaces Sanath Jayasuriya, who stepped down after Sri Lanka’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.
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