India’s Packed Schedule Gets Busier with Proposed Afghanistan T20I Series- IPL

Team India’s already packed international calendar after IPL 2026 could become even busier, with Afghanistan reportedly set to host a three-match T20I series against the Men in Blue in September. According to reports, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has approached the BCCI to organize the series in New Delhi, as Afghanistan continue to play their home fixtures outside their country due to ongoing political and security challenges. If finalized, the series would mark the first time Afghanistan officially host India in a bilateral contest.

The proposed series is expected to be played entirely at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with the three matches tentatively scheduled for September 13, 16, and 19, 2026. Discussions between the two cricket boards are believed to be in the final stages, with an official announcement likely once the remaining formalities are completed.

A BCCI source told the Times of India that the Indian board shares a strong relationship with the ACB and has often helped smaller cricketing nations by agreeing to bilateral series that boost their revenues and cricketing development. The source added that an understanding has already been reached between the BCCI and ACB regarding the proposed series.

The report further claims that the BCCI has facilitated discussions between the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) to make Delhi Afghanistan’s temporary home venue for the series. The DDCA has reportedly begun adjusting its Delhi Premier League T20 schedule to accommodate the international fixtures.

While India and Afghanistan have faced each other several times in ICC tournaments and bilateral contests, Afghanistan have never officially hosted India before. That is set to change if the series goes ahead as planned. For more than a decade, Afghanistan have been forced to play their home matches in neutral venues because of the situation in their homeland.

India’s Support for Afghanistan Cricket

India has played a significant role in supporting Afghan cricket during this period. Afghanistan previously used Greater Noida and Dehradun as their adopted home venues, hosting teams such as Ireland and Bangladesh in India before eventually shifting most of their home fixtures to the UAE, particularly Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

Their most recent attempt to stage a major international match in India came in September 2024, when a one-off Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to an unplayable outfield following heavy rain. Despite that setback, India has continued to assist Afghanistan by providing venues and opportunities to host international cricket.

The timing of the proposed T20I series is particularly noteworthy because it overlaps with a hectic period in India’s schedule. According to reports, the itinerary has already been shared with the national selection committee as the BCCI prepares for a unique logistical challenge later in the year.

The Afghanistan series is scheduled to conclude on September 19, just days before the start of cricket at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where India will be defending the gold medal they won in Hangzhou. The tournament is set to begin on September 23, creating a potential clash in scheduling and player availability.

The congestion becomes even more significant when considering India’s subsequent home series against the West Indies. With the Afghanistan T20Is running from September 13-19, the Asian Games from September 23 to October 3, the West Indies ODI series from September 27 to October 3, and the T20I leg from October 6 to October 17, the BCCI is likely to field two separate squads. A younger side could be sent to the Asian Games, while a senior squad remains in India for the home season, ensuring the country can compete effectively across multiple tournaments simultaneously.

Afghanistan tour of India schedule