Sunday marked the announcement by the Afghanistan Cricket Board of the dates for its all-formats away tour of Sri Lanka in February. After a single Test, Afghanistan will participate in three ODIs and three T20Is. They will then travel to the United Arab Emirates to host Ireland for a complete series consisting of one Test, three ODIs, and three T20Is.
From February 2 to 6, the one-time Test will be contested at the SSC in Colombo. The three ODIs will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 9, 11, and 14. The teams will subsequently proceed to Dambulla to compete in the three Twenty20 Internationals on February 17, 19, and 21.
The Test against Ireland, which will be played in Abu Dhabi from February 28 to March 3, will inaugurate the series. The venue for both the ODIs and the T20Is is the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The dates announced for the ODIs are March 7, 9, and 12, whereas the T20Is will be contested on March 15, 17, and 18.
The ACB and the SLC engaged in discussions to enable the inclusion of the three ODIs on the tour of Sri Lanka, which had previously comprised only the Test and three T20Is. The inclusion of these three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) is a substantial measure taken to guarantee a thorough and all-encompassing tour that will not only enhance the visibility of Afghanistan Cricket but also promote more amicable relations between the two countries. “Playing Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka is always difficult, but Afghan Atalan can readily accept the challenge,” said ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf.
“The year 2024 is a very busy and full of high-voltage competitions for the Afghanistan National Team, which is a very good and positive sign for Afghanistan Cricket,” added ACB CEO Naseem Khan. The forthcoming home series against Ireland, followed by tours of India and Sri Lanka, will assist in the preparation of the team for the crucial Twenty20 World Cup. Anticipating the arrival of multiple series in advance.”
