Pakistan and Afghanistan to play a T20 series in Sharjah

Afghanistan is set to host the Pakistan cricket team to play three T20 matches in Sharjah after the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8 ends on March 19. The series is slated to commence on March 25 and will end on March 29, however no official announcement on the dates have been made yet.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman Mirwais Ashraf hopes that the upcoming series would ‘strengthen our team and our cricket altogether’ and said, “Overall, we are excited to host and play Pakistan in what will be a thrilling series of cricket games between the two countries.”

PCB Chairman Najam Sethi also expressed his ‘delight’ about the first Pakistan versus Afghanistan T20 series.

The PCB selection committee led by Haroon Rasheed, has already started the process of selecting the best players for the series. Players like Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Ihsanullah, and Osama Mir, are being considered as serious contenders to join the squad owing to their good form and exceptional performance in the ongoing season of the PSL.

Earlier the Afghanistan was slated to play this three-match series against Australia however Cricket Australia took the decision to back out from the series owing to the political conditions of Afghanistan. They had issued a statement saying, “Following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Australian Government, Cricket Australia has decided that it is unable to proceed at this time with the upcoming ICC Super League three-match Men’s ODI series between Australia and Afghanistan scheduled for the UAE in March 2023,”

It further stated, “This decision follows the recent announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms.

“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country.

“We thank the Australian Government for its support on this matter.”