Later this year, cricket fans can look forward to a three-nation T20I series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai expected to host the event.
Originally scheduled as a bilateral T20I series between Pakistan and Afghanistan — part of the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) — the series is now being reshaped into a tri-nation affair. Sources indicate that with the UAE emerging as a likely venue for the 2024 T20 Asia Cup, discussions are underway to relocate the series to the Emirates and bring the hosts into the fold.
Though India holds hosting rights for this year’s Asia Cup, the tournament is set to be staged at a neutral venue, likely the UAE, due to longstanding political tensions preventing bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan. September has been tentatively earmarked for the Asia Cup window.
Notably, Pakistan and Afghanistan have never played a bilateral series on Pakistani soil. While Afghanistan has participated in ICC events hosted by Pakistan — including appearances during the Champions Trophy — the two sides have typically met on neutral grounds. In 2023, Afghanistan hosted Pakistan in Hambantota and Colombo ahead of the Asia Cup, allowing both sides to acclimatise to subcontinental conditions.
The last bilateral T20I series between Pakistan and Afghanistan took place in the UAE in March 2023, marking a historic moment for Afghanistan as they notched their first series win against Pakistan. Later that year, they followed up with their maiden ODI victory over Pakistan during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Pakistan and the UAE, meanwhile, have only ever met in multi-team tournaments. Their encounters include the 1994 Austral-Asia Cup and group-stage clashes in the 1996 and 2015 ICC World Cups. The most recent meeting between the two came during the 2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh.
The planned tri-series promises to offer competitive cricket while also serving as vital preparation for the teams ahead of the T20 Asia Cup. Further details, including match dates and venues, are expected in the coming weeks.
