Afghanistan is set to host T20I series in India before the Asian Games 2026

Ahead of the Asian Games, Afghanistan are set to host India with likely to stage three T20Is at Delhi in September in an international cricket series for the first time.

The series is expected to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, tentatively scheduled for September 13, 16 and 19. Though without any official announcement yet, the arrangement has advanced after the Afghanistan Cricket Board approached the BCCI for a return tour.

Taking to BCCI source quoted by Hindustan Times it said, “BCCI and ACB share a good relationship. BCCI has been helping other boards like Ireland, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe by sending Indian teams to play a series there to boost the finances of those board. An understanding has been reached between BCCI and ACB in this regard. An official announcement will be made after a few modalities are completed."

Will Delhi be the Afghanistan’s home base?

The Arun Jaitley Stadium is likely to serve as Afghanistan's home base for the upcoming T20I series, with venue arrangements at Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is also being worked out.

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Though Afghanistan have used Indian and the UAE stadiums as their home grounds because of the challenges regarding security and logistics to host international cricket in their own country.

India prepares selection amid the Afghanistan series

In the meantime, the selectors of India are expected to pick a 15-member T20 squad for the Asian Games, which is scheduled to begin on September 23 for the cricket format in the event. It means that the Afghanistan series could be an immediate preparation for India, either as a reference point to selection or as match practice for players in the T20 pool.

Afghanistan's schedule for T20I

The Afghanistan tour to India are already scheduled in June for one Test and three ODIs. However, the T20I series in September would have a different schedule as Afghanistan will be hosting at the Indian soil.

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For Afghanistan cricket, the series offers visibility, revenue and another high-profile assignment against one of the sport’s biggest teams. While for India, it extends BCCI’s lending of hand to smaller boards through bilateral cricket with giving a useful T20I section ahead of the major multi-sport event.

In conclusion, the series will mark a symbolic history with Afghanistan hosting India in Delhi, which in turn make the national capital into neutral home territory for the cricket journey.