Afghanistan announce multi-format series with Bangladesh, Zimbabwe

Afghanistan will host Bangladesh and Zimbabwe for a series of international cricket matches in the United Arab Emirates in October and November, including three Tests, a one-day international tri-series and three T20 internationals, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced Tuesday.

The schedule will begin with a one-off Test between Afghanistan and Bangladesh from Oct. 9-13.

An ODI tri-series involving Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will follow from Oct. 17-23. Each team will play the other once, with the top two advancing to the final on Oct. 23.

Bangladesh will face Zimbabwe in the opening ODI on Oct. 17, followed by Afghanistan against Zimbabwe on Oct. 19 and Afghanistan against Bangladesh on Oct. 21.

After the tri-series, Afghanistan will host Zimbabwe for three T20 internationals on Oct. 27, Oct. 29 and Nov. 1.

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will then play two Tests, with the first scheduled for Nov. 5-9 and the second for Nov. 13-17.

Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan said the schedule would provide the national team with opportunities to compete against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe across multiple formats.

“Playing Bangladesh and Zimbabwe across different formats will provide our players with valuable competitive opportunities and offer our supporters an exciting period of international cricket,” Khan said.

He said the board remained committed to providing Afghanistan with regular international competition and praised cooperation with the Bangladesh Cricket Board and Zimbabwe Cricket.

Bangladesh Cricket Board CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said the one-off Test would give Bangladesh players their first opportunity to play red-ball cricket in the UAE.

“We attach great importance to Tests, and this will be an excellent opportunity for our players to experience red-ball cricket in the UAE for the first time and challenge themselves against a formidable Afghanistan side that has traditionally performed well in these conditions,” Chowdhury said.

Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Givemore Makoni said the tour would provide his team with competition across all three formats, highlighting the importance of the two Tests as Zimbabwe seeks more opportunities in the longest format.

“This is an important tour for Zimbabwe, offering our players high-quality competition across all three formats,” Makoni said.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board did not specify the UAE stadiums where the matches will be played.