Afghanistan and Bangladesh are allegedly in negotiations to play a three-match T20I series in the United Arab Emirates in October 2025, ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are currently in talks, and early October is being considered for the series, though official confirmation has not yet been made.
This proposed T20I series is an extension of the July 2024 all-format tour that was initially scheduled. Two Test matches, three ODIs, and three T20Is were originally planned for the tour, but due to scheduling and weather issues, it was eventually reduced to a white-ball series. Due to Bangladesh’s hectic schedule and the difficulties of the monsoon season, the updated plan to hold the matches in Greater Noida, India, also fell through.
In November 2024, both teams played a three-match ODI series in the United Arab Emirates, with Afghanistan winning the series 2-1.
However, both boards have been eager to revive the remaining leg, therefore the postponed T20Is are scheduled to take place. Talks about the rescheduled T20I leg have started, according to BCB and ACB authorities.
“We have already started our discussion with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) regarding the series that was postponed earlier and hope to discuss further after Ramadan and we are hoping to play three T20Is as we are considering it as part of our preparation for the T20 World Cup,” a representative of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stated to C
Series should act as a platform for T20 World Cup preparation
Additionally, according to an ACB spokesman, the series might happen between October 2 and October 12, indicating a possible window in the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP). If confirmed, the series will take place between Bangladesh’s home series against the West Indies in late October and the Asia Cup in September.
Both countries will use the series as a training ground for the T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host in early 2026. Afghanistan has scheduled trips to Zimbabwe, the West Indies, and New Zealand in the run-up to the major tournament. Bangladesh is aggressively trying to improve their squad combinations in the meantime.
Additionally, this will mark the two countries’ first T20I match since their meeting at the T20 World Cup 2024 in Kingstown, where Afghanistan’s victory earned them a historic trip to the semi-finals.
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