Afghanistan Cricket Board confirms three T20Is against India in New Delhi, with the September series effectively ending hopes of India’s proposed Bangladesh tour.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially confirmed the dates and venue for Afghanistan’s three-match T20I series against India in September 2026.
According to a letter sent by ACB CEO Naseeb Khan to the board’s commercial partners on Monday, August 10, the three matches will be played at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13, 15 and 17.
The dates have been agreed with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), although an official public announcement from the concerned authorities is still awaited.
ACB Confirms Dates and Venue
The ACB’s communication provides the clearest indication yet that the Afghanistan-India series will go ahead as planned.
The Afghan board informed its commercial partners that both the dates and venues had been finalised with the BCCI.
The board has also asked media-rights holders to begin their preparations based on the confirmed schedule, including production planning, promotional activities, staffing and resource allocation.
The three T20Is will all be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, giving the series a compact schedule over five days.
Bangladesh Tour Now Unlikely
The confirmation has significant consequences for India’s proposed tour of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had previously earmarked September 1 to 13 for a six-match white-ball series involving India.
However, the Afghanistan series begins on September 13 and runs until September 17, creating an unavoidable scheduling conflict.
With less than three weeks remaining before the proposed Bangladesh window, India’s tour now appears highly unlikely unless there is an unexpected intervention or last-minute change involving the relevant authorities.
The ACB’s formal confirmation further strengthens the expectation that India’s international commitments in September will centre on the Afghanistan series.
Possible Change for Ganesh Chaturthi
Although the ACB has confirmed September 13, 15 and 17 as the current dates, discussions are reportedly continuing over a possible adjustment.
The Afghanistan board has approached the BCCI about moving either the first or second T20I to September 14.
The date coincides with Ganesh Chaturthi, one of India’s major festivals.
Such a change could add a special dimension to the series and potentially create an occasion linking the bilateral contest with a major Indian celebration.
However, there has been no official confirmation that any fixture will be moved.
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Broadcast Rights Taking Shape
The upcoming series is also attracting considerable attention from broadcasters.
ITW Universe, which holds the media rights, is reportedly in discussions with JioStar, Sony Sports and Zee Unite8 regarding the linear television rights for the three matches.
A broadcaster is expected to be finalised shortly.
FanCode, meanwhile, holds the digital rights for the series.
The short gap between the confirmation of the schedule and the opening match means broadcasters will have to move quickly with production, promotion and commercial planning.
A Historic Series for Afghanistan
The series represents a significant moment for Afghanistan cricket.
It will mark Afghanistan’s first bilateral series against India hosted under the current arrangement, making the three-match contest an important milestone for the country’s cricketing development.
Afghanistan have established themselves as one of the strongest emerging teams in international cricket, particularly in the T20 format.
Their progress has been driven by a generation of world-class players capable of competing against the strongest teams in the world.
Playing a full bilateral T20I series against India in New Delhi will therefore provide Afghanistan with another major opportunity to test themselves against one of cricket’s most powerful sides.
India and Afghanistan Rivalry Continues to Grow
India and Afghanistan have developed an increasingly competitive cricketing relationship over recent years.
Their matches have attracted significant interest because of Afghanistan’s rapid rise and India’s established dominance in international cricket.
The T20 format has been particularly important in Afghanistan’s development, with their players gaining extensive experience through franchise leagues around the world.
A three-match series in India will give both teams valuable preparation and competitive exposure ahead of their future international commitments.
ITW Promises Enhanced Broadcast Experience
ITW Universe co-founder Bhairav Shanth has described the series as a landmark event and indicated that the production will include several new visual and storytelling elements.
The company is expected to use the series to introduce broadcast enhancements designed to give viewers a more immersive experience.
With Afghanistan officially confirming the schedule, broadcasters and production partners can now accelerate preparations for the September contest.
India-Afghanistan T20I Schedule
The currently confirmed schedule is:
- September 13: 1st T20I – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
- September 15: 2nd T20I – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
- September 17: 3rd T20I – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
The possibility of moving one fixture to September 14 remains under discussion.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s confirmation has brought clarity to India’s September international schedule.
The three-match T20I series will be played in New Delhi from September 13 to 17, with the BCCI having agreed to the dates and venue.
More importantly, the development makes India’s proposed Bangladesh tour increasingly unlikely, given the overlap between the two schedules.
For Afghanistan, the series represents a landmark opportunity to play India in a bilateral contest, while the broadcasters and commercial partners are already preparing for what promises to be a high-profile T20I series.
With the possibility of a Ganesh Chaturthi fixture still being explored, there could yet be another interesting twist before India and Afghanistan begin their September showdown.