Bangladesh Likely to Play Crucial T20I Series Against Afghanistan in UAE Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Bangladesh is set to play a crucial T20I series against Afghanistan in preparation for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. The three-match series is likely to be held in October in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), although the official schedule is yet to be finalized. Both boards have made positive progress in discussions, and the tentative window for the series is after the Asia Cup in September and before West Indies' tour of Bangladesh in the third week of October.

Originally, Bangladesh was scheduled to tour Afghanistan in July 2024 for a full-format series comprising two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is, with the venue set in Greater Noida, India. However, due to concerns over weather conditions and Bangladesh’s tight calendar, the tour was postponed at the last moment.

Later in November 2024, the ODI leg was held in India, where Afghanistan won the series 2-1. Since then, talks had been ongoing to host the T20I series separately, and it now appears that those talks are coming to fruition with a likely October schedule.

The 2026 T20 World Cup, to be held jointly in India and Sri Lanka, makes every international match a vital preparation opportunity. Bangladesh plans to use the Afghanistan series to test its squad depth and combinations under subcontinental conditions—similar to those expected during the World Cup.

The UAE is a familiar and favorable venue for Bangladesh, offering both competitive preparation and challenging opposition in Afghanistan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is not taking the series lightly given its strategic importance.

Following this series, Bangladesh is set to host West Indies for three ODIs and three T20Is. Playing against Afghanistan just before that will help the team gain valuable game time and refine combinations ahead of a packed schedule.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, has a tour of Zimbabwe lined up at the end of October. With a short window available in early October after the Asia Cup, the Afghan board is keen to arrange the T20Is against Bangladesh during that period in the UAE.

This series is also part of Afghanistan’s World Cup buildup, alongside T20I series against West Indies and New Zealand.

The last T20I clash between Bangladesh and Afghanistan came during the 2024 T20 World Cup, in Kingstown, West Indies. Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in a tense group-stage match to qualify for their first-ever T20 World Cup semifinal.

The two boards are also in talks about rescheduling the cancelled Test series, possibly for 2025. For now, however, the focus remains firmly on the T20I series in October.

The exact match dates are yet to be confirmed, but Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai are under consideration as potential venues.