The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Thursday (December 8) that the national team will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this month for a T20I series.
In an official announcement, the ACB confirmed that the Afghanistan cricket team will play three T20 internationals and two 50-over warmup matches on their UAE tour later this month. All the matches of the tour are set to take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.
The cricket action will kick off with two 50-over warmup games scheduled for December 25th and 27th. Following the warmup matches, Afghanistan and the UAE will face each other in the three T20I matches, starting on December 29 in Sharjah.
Notably, this will be Afghanistan's second tour to the UAE in 2023, with the Rashid Khan-led side emerging victorious in the first series with a 2-1 win in Abu Dhabi earlier this year in February.
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The ongoing series is part of a cooperation agreement signed last year between the ACB and the Emirates Cricket Boards. According to the agreement, Afghanistan and the UAE will engage in a series of three T20I matches annually, strengthening the cricket ties between the two nations.
Naseeb Khan, CEO of the ACB, said in an official statement: “Our collaboration with the Emirates Cricket Board has been helpful. The inaugural UAE Series earlier this year offered us an excellent foundation to prepare for the following events throughout the year. Banking on our positive previous experience, we eagerly anticipate the upcoming UAE series for the same purpose again.”
He further added, “This upcoming tour marks the commencement of our new year which is expected to provide the AfghanAtalan squad with the necessary impetus for an action-packed 2024 season, featuring plenty of T20 cricket to be played.”
ECB’s General Secretary Mubashshir Usmani said: “We are delighted to host the Afghanistan team for the second time this year. We had a hugely competitive T20I series in February and this tour will once again provide excellent opportunities to our seasoned as well as young players against a formidable opponent.”
He added, “Afghanistan performed incredibly well in the ODI World Cup, and they are a team on the rise with a strong support base in the UAE. We look forward to welcoming the Afghanistan team.”
The series will conclude Afghanistan's assignments in 2023 and will simultaneously mark the beginning of an eventful and action-packed 2024.
(With ANI Inputs)
