Bangladesh is all set to host Afghanistan and Zimbabwe for a T20I Tri-series in September this year, confirmed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday, 27th June. 

Earlier, Afghanistan was scheduled to tour Bangladesh for one-off Test and two T20Is this year according to FTP (Future Tours Programme), but they have now replaced it with a Tri-series.  

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the BCB took a decision with mutual understanding to replace the tour with T20I tri-series in late September this year keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup. 

With the T20 World Cup to be played in October next year, most of the teams are trying to play more short-format matches after the conclusion of the ongoing World Cup 2019, as Bangladesh will have to go through the group stages to make it to the super 12s for the ICC event.  

Being a 7th ranked team, Afghanistan has directly qualified for the Super 12 for the World T20, while the 10th ranked Bangladesh will have to play group stage to make it to the final 12s.  

Meanwhile, the BCB announced the dates for the matches but are yet to announce timing and venues for the Tri-series starting from 14 September at home against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.  

The series opener will be played between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe on 14th September, then Bangladesh will take on Afghan in the second T20I on 15th September.  

The hosts will then play Afghan side on September 18 and Zimbabwe will then face Afghanistan on September 20 with the final will be played on September 23. 

(With bdcrictime.com Inputs)