The three-match ODI series between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been relocated to Hambantota, Sri Lanka from UAE, Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed on Saturday.
The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been moved to Sri Lanka from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Afghanistan Cricket Board officially announced it on Saturday.
The series between both two teams are scheduled to be played from Sep 1 to Sep 5 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota which was initially planned to be played at UAE.
The hosts changed their plans due to the unavailability of the venues in the region. ACB has approached UAE and Oman to host their series but both countries failed to accommodate due to already scheduled events.
The series has been moved to Sri Lanka due to the remaining matches of IPL. The IPL matches are also being scheduled to begin on September 20 in the UAE.
UAE is also set to host the T20 World Cup alongside Oman after the completion of IPL. And due to the IPL and T20 world cup, UAE cannot allow ACB to host the ODI series against Pakistan. UAE has a very busy schedule which didn’t allow them to play series at their venues.
“Yes, we will host the ODI series against Pakistan in Sri Lanka,”
ACB’s media manager Hikmat Hassan told Cricbuzz on Saturday.
ACB has also tried to stage the series in Zimbabwe but they had to change their plans due to the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country.
This will be the first bilateral series between both countries and the matches carry much significance as they come under ICC ODI Super League.
Pakistan is currently placed in the fifth position with 40 points from nine matches. Meanwhile, the Afghans are placed eighth with 30 points, having won all three matches so far.
Before this series, Pakistan will also be played the 5 T20 matches series against West Indies which will begin on July 27 and will end on August 24 with two test matches series.
Afghanistan has played the last ODI series in January when they clean swept Ireland.
Now the ODI series between Pakistan and Afghanistan will be hosted at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota where the last match was played between Sri Lanka and the West Indies.